World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseUSS Preston entered service later in the war, in Mar 1944. She supported the invasion of Guam in Jul 1944 and then the invasion of Palau Islands in Sep 1944. Between Oct and Dec 1944, she escorted carriers in Philippine waters, participating in the naval battles off Leyte, Philippine Islands early in the campaign. In early 1945, she escort carriers into the South China Sea during Operation Gratitude, and then went on to serve in a similar role during the invasion of Iwo Jima. During the Okinawa invasion, she served initially as an escort to carriers, than provided naval gunfire for ground troops on the Motobu Peninsula, at Nago Bay, Nakagusu Bay, and the Naha area; she also bombarded positions on nearby Ie Shima and Kutaka Shima islands. She would remain in the Okinawa area until the end of the war. She was decommissioned in California, United States in 1946. She returned to service as the Korean War began, in 1951, although she would not arrive in Korean waters until May 1953, where she would again serve in carrier escort duties as she had during WW2. In the 1960s, she served two tours of duty off Vietnam during the Vietnam War and warned a Presidential Unit Commendation. She was decommissioned from the US Navy for the final time on 15 Nov 1969. Transferred to Turkey later on the same day, she operated under the new name of Icel (D 344) until 1981. Icel was broken up for scrap later in 1981.

Destroyer Preston (Fletcher-class) (DD-795) Interactive Map

Photographs

Preston (Fletcher-class) Operational Timeline