USS BARTON (DD-722)

• Commissioned in 1943: USS Barton (DD-722) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned on December 30, 1943, named after Rear Admiral John Kennedy Barton. • Second Ship with the Name: She was the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Barton; the first (DD-599) was sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. • D-Day Participation: Barton played a key role in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, providing fire support for Allied troops at Omaha Beach. • Survived a Near Miss: On D-Day, Barton narrowly escaped being sunk by German shore batteries, sustaining minor damage but remaining operational. • Operation Dragoon: In August 1944, Barton supported Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France, offering gunfire support and anti-aircraft defense. • Pacific Theater Service: After actions in Europe, Barton was transferred to the Pacific, joining operations against Japan in 1945, including Okinawa. • Kamikaze Attack: On May 5, 1945, Barton was damaged by a kamikaze attack off Okinawa, suffering casualties but managing to remain afloat and operational. • Korean War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War, Barton served from 1951-1952, providing naval gunfire support and screening aircraft carriers. • Multiple Battle Stars: USS Barton earned six battle stars for her World War II service and two for her actions during the Korean War. • Fate: Decommissioned in 1968, USS Barton was eventually sunk as a target off the coast of Florida in 1969, ending her long and distinguished career.