O'Bannon I (Destroyer No. 177)
(DD-177: dp. 1,060; l 314-5-; b. 31-8-; dr. 9-2-; s. 35 k.; cpl. 101; a. 4 4-, 2 3-, 12 21- tt.; cl. Wickes)
Presley Neville O'Bannon, born in 1784 in Fauquier County, Va., entered the Marine Corps 18 January 1801. As a first lieutenant he commanded a detachment of marines in General Eaton's little force in the War with Tripoli. During the combined operations with the U.S. Navy, he led the successful attack on Derne 27 April 1805, giving the Marine Corps its immortal "to the shores of Tripoli." After resigning from the Marine Corps 6 March 1807, O'Bannon lived in Franklin County, Kentucky, where he died 12 September 1850.
I
The first O'Bannon (Destroyer No. 177) was laid down by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Calif., 11 November 1918; launched 28 February 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Henry O'Bannon Cooper, descendent by marriage of Lt. O'Bannon; and commissioned at San Francisco 27 August 1919, Lt. Robert F. Gross in command.
O'Bannon sailed out of San Diego for exercises and training maneuvers along the coast of California and in Hawaiian waters throughout her career. In the spring of 1920 she conducted experiments with torpedoes, then was in reserve commission from June to November, when she resumed her training schedule. She decommissioned at San Diego 27 May 1922, was struck from the Navy List 19 May 1936, and was sold 29 September 1936.
