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USS Ingersoll (DD-652)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Ingersoll (DD-652)

USS Ingersoll (DD-652) was launched by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, 28 June 1942; cosponsored by Miss Alice Jean Ingersoll, granddaughter of Admiral Ingersoll, and Mrs. R. R. Ingersoll II, widow of Lieutenant Ingersoll; and commissioned at Boston Navy Yard 31 August 1943, Comdr. A. C. Veasy in command.

USS Ingersoll (DD-652) conducted shakedown training off Bermuda during September and October 1943, and returned to Boston. The destroyer departed 16 January with the Southern Bombardment Group, and began preinvasion firing on Kwajalein 30 January. The landings began next day with USS Ingersoll (DD-652) lying offshore in her vital support role. With the victory won, she retired to Majuro 5 February, but was underway again 16 February to screen the fast carrier forces in their devastating raid on Truk 17 to 18 February.

USS Ingersoll (DD-652) took part in preinvasion bombardments of Peleliu 7 September, and early in October joined in the sortie of Task Force 38 for one of the most important operations of the war. In late October the Japanese moved in a three-pronged attack to repel the invasion of the Philippines and force a decisive naval battle. The ensuing battle was the four-part Battle for Leyte Gulf, in which USS Ingersoll (DD-652) and her task group played an important role. Following battle repairs and crew rotation USS Ingersoll (DD-652) got underway for Pearl Harbor 18 April 1945 and after training exercises sailed for Ulithi 2 May. From that staging base she steamed toward Okinawa, serving as a patrol vessel and screening flight operations.

After the surrender of Japan 15 August, USS Ingersoll (DD-652) assisted with the occupation; she was anchored in Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremonies on board USS Missouri 2 September 1945. The veteran destroyer remained in Japan to help demilitarize Japanese bases, departing 5 December for the United States. The destroyer recommissioned at Charleston 4 May 1951 in response to the U.N. Forces' growing need for naval support during the Korean conflict.

USS Ingersoll (DD-652) completed a yard overhaul 5 February 1965, conducted readiness operations along the seaboard, then sailed from San Diego 9 June 1965 for the coast of South Vietnam. USS Ingersoll (DD-652) operated along the West Coast until departing San Diego 5 November 1966 for the Far East. Upon reaching the war zone she participated in Operation "Sea Dragon," anti-shipping and interdiction operations, and plane guard duty for USS Kitty Hawk (OVA-63). On 5 December a North Vietnamese coastal battery fired on the destroyer whose prompt counter fire silenced the enemy guns. USS Ingersoll (DD-652) continued to operate in the war zone and other Oriental waters until returning home in the spring of 1967 to prepare for future assignments.

For a complete history of USS Ingersoll (DD-652) please see its DANFS page.