USS O'Bannon (DD-450) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was named after Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, the Marine Corps officer who played a key role in the capture of Derne during the First Barbary War. Commissioned in 1942, the O'Bannon participated in numerous operations in the Pacific Theater, earning a reputation for its combat prowess and effectiveness. One of the ship's most famous exploits was the Battle of Cape St. George, where it engaged and sank a Japanese destroyer without suffering any casualties. The O'Bannon also played a crucial role in the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Iwo Jima, providing fire support and anti-aircraft defense for allied forces. The ship received numerous awards and commendations for its service, including the Presidential Unit Citation and 17 battle stars. After the war, the O'Bannon was decommissioned and eventually sold for scrap in 1970. However, the ship's legacy lives on, with a museum ship in Hawaii named after the USS O'Bannon, honoring its remarkable service and contributions during World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.