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Namesake
	77k	Presley Neville O’Bannon (1776 - 12 September 1850) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War. He received a sword for his role in restoring Prince Hamet Karamali to his throne at Tripoli in recognition of his bravery. That sword became the model for the Mameluke Sword adopted in 1825 as the Marine officers' sword that is still part of the dress uniform today. Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, O'Bannon entered the Marine Corps 18 January 1801. As a First Lieutenant, he commanded a detachment of seven Marines in General William Eaton’s little force in the War with Tripoli. During the combined operations with the U.S. Navy, he led the successful attack in the Battle of Derna 27 April 1805, giving the Marines' Hymn its immortal “to the shores of Tripoli”. Although some sources maintain that at this battle Presley O'Bannon became the first man to raise the American flag over foreign soil, his superior William Eaton had done so a few months earlier while traveling on the Nile from Alexandria to Cairo. According to tradition, Hamet Karamanli was so impressed with O'Bannon's bravery, that following the attack, he presented Lt. O'Bannon with his personal Mameluke sword as a gesture of gratitude. Upon his return to the states, the state of Virginia presented him with a silver-hilted sword featuring an eaglehead hilt and a curved blade modeled after the original Mameluke given him by Hamet. Its blade is inscribed with his name and a commemoration of the battle of Tripoli. After resigning from the Marine Corps 6 March 1807, O’Bannon moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where he built a home in Russellville. He served in the Kentucky state legislature 1812, 1817, 1820-21 and in the Kentucky state senate 1824-1826. He died 12 September 1850 in Franklin County, Kentucky. His remains were moved to the Frankfort Cemetery in 1919. Perhaps due to the Marines' distinguished record during this campaign, including the capture of the Tripolitan city of Derna after a long and dangerous desert march, Marine Corps Commandant Archibald Henderson adopted the Mameluke sword in 1825 for wear by Marine officers. After initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn except for the years 1859-75 (when Marine officers were required to wear Army M1850 foot officers' swords), and a brief period when swords were suspended during World War II. Since that time, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers in a continuing tradition to the present day as of 2007.		Bill Gonyo
USS O'Bannon (DD/DDE-450)
	127k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	133k	Undated, location unknown.		David Buell
	93k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	36k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	87k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	61k	Undated, location unknown.		David Buell
	145k	Undated, Bath Iron Works photo.		David Buell
	86k	Undated, Bath Iron Works photo. Photo taken from United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe.		Robert Hurst
	200k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Nicholas (DD-449) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1942. Note: Stamp in upper right does not appear on negative. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35342.		Mike Green
	273k	USS Nicholas (DD-449) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1942. Note: Stamp in upper right does not appear on negative. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35340.		Mike Green
	344k	Looking forward, USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Nicholas (DD-449) under construction at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 1 January 1941. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-35343.		Mike Green
	52k	Inclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.		Pieter Bakels
	110k	Inclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.		David Buell
	122k	Inclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.		David Buell
	128k	Inclining test at Bath Iron Works, June 21 1942.		David Buell
	137k	USS O'Bannon at Bath during an inclining experiment, on 21 June 1942. Stacks, searchlights, and torpedo tubes are prominent, with the 5" practice loading machine at lower right. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD. Photo # 19-N-18672.		David Buell/Robert Hurst
	142k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) moored to a buoy in mid 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12(Modified). Wartime censors retouched this image to remove radars atop the foremast and Mark 37 dun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections Photo #: 80-G-44177.		Robert Hurst
	171k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) moored to a buoy in mid 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12(Modified). Wartime censors retouched this image to remove radars atop the foremast and Mark 37 dun director. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-44177,		Mike Green
	224k	O'Bannon tied up alongside USS Medusa (AR-1) at Noumea, 08-11 August 1943. Cummings (DD-365) is moored between them. From the Cdr Dayton Brown photos. Note how the paint coloring works with it's surroundings. Help with ship details enabling the Desron 21 tin cans to be distinguished from each other came from Rick Davis.		Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
	100k	Ships of Task Force 18 during gunnery exercises off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on 19 April 1943. At right are the destroyers Strong (DD-467) and O'Bannon (DD-450), making a turn. The three large ships in the distance are light cruisers, including St. Louis (CL-49) and Helena (CL-50) at left and either Nashville (CL-43) or Honolulu (CL-48) in the right center. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #: 80-G-299058.		Robert Hurst
	86k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) picking up a pilot while operating with Task Force 36.1 in the Solomon Islands area, circa 3-4 July 1943. USS Chevalier (DD-451) is seen beyond O'Bannon's stern. Courtesy of Rick E. Davis, 2012. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-259193.		Mike Green
	89k	Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships underway in the Solomon Islands, 15 August 1943. The ships are (from front to rear): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449), while the ships were enroute to the landings at Vella Lavella, which took place on the same day. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	66k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) showing Tulagi harbour a year after its capture. Photo from United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe.		Robert Hurst
	106k	Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships steaming in column, while en route to Guadalcanal and Tulagi on 15 August 1943, following the Vella Lavella landings. Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449). The ships seen are(from right to left): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	91k	USS Selfridge (DD-357), left, and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) damaged at Noumea, Espiritu Santo, after the naval Battle of Vella Lavella, on 7 October 1943. Selfridge´s bow was torn off by a Japanese torpedo (note sailors climbing in the wrecked gun turret). O'Bannon collided with USS Chevalier (DD-451) during the battle, after Chevalier had been hit by a torpedo (she had to be sunk later). U.S. Navy photo from Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier (History of US Naval Operations in WWII, Vol VI), by Samuel Eliot Morison, Castle Books, Edison (New Jersey, USA), 2001, p. 253 (reprint from 1950).		Robert Hurst
	142k	Midships looking aft plan view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 6 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.		Darryl Baker
	93k	Forward plan view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 6 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.		Darryl Baker
	142k	January 6 1944 at Mare Island after overhaul and weapons upgrades.		David Buell
	93k	Stern view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.		Darryl Baker
	73k	Broadside view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.		Darryl Baker
	70k	Bow on view of the USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 19 Nov 43 until 11 Jan 44.		Darryl Baker
	88k	USS O'Bannon (DD 450) off Mare Island on 8 Jan 1944.		David Buell
	148k	USS O'Bannon seen firing in combat by an Army photographer off Mindoro, 13 Dec 1944. Two sister cans apparently in 6d and 13d camouflage are unclear at right. Photo NA SC260127.		John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder
	130k	The USS O'Bannon (DD-450) being removed from mothballs for conversion to the DDE configuration at Long Beach NY, 17 January 1949. Note the man standing on the radar on the Mk-37 Fire Control Director.		Rick E. Davis
	116k	A June 1950 photo at San Diego NY shows the USS Nicholas (DDE-449), USS O'Bannon (DDE-450), USS Walker (DDE-517) and USS Sproston (DDE-577), returned to Mothballs after being converted to the DDE ASW configuration. All four of these DDE's were armed with of 2-5"/38cal, 5 Torpedo Tubes, Mk-15 ASW Projector, and provisions for 4x2-20mm guns. Also, seen is the USS Killen (DD-593) and several DE's, including USS Raymond (DE-341) and USS Dennis (DE-405) and an APD. Cropped from an USN Photo from the NARA photo files, 80-G-428265.		Rick E. Davis
	204k	USS Nicholas (DD-449) & USS O'Bannon (DD-450) berth at Mare Island on 15 Feb 1951 before their re-commissioning. Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	242k	USS Nicholas (DD 449) & USS O'Bannon (DD 450) berth at Mare Island on 15 Feb 1951 before their re-commissioning. Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	155k	New commanding officer and Commander Western Sea Frontier at the re-commissioning of the USS Nicholas (DD 449) & O'Bannon (DD 450) at Mare Island on 19 Feb 1951. Left to right: CDR H. C. Mason (CO, Nicholas), RADM T. R. Cooley & CDR D. J. Carrison (CO, O'Bannon). Photos courtesy of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	97k	Bow on view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) departing Mare Island on 1 March 1951.		Darryl Baker
	80k	Broadside view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) off Mare Island on 1 March 1951. She was in overhaul at the yard from 19 Feb. to 24 March 1951.		Darryl Baker
	99k	Stern view of USS O'Bannon (DDE 450) off Mare Island on 1 March 1951.		Darryl Baker
	150k	March 17 1951 as a DDE at Mare Island.		Ed Zajkowski
	98k	USS Regulus (AF-57) replenishing the destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CVA-38). Shangri-La, with assigned Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3), was deployed to the Western Pacific from 5 January to 23 June 1956. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) 1956 cruise book.		Robert Hurst
	176k	Image of the USS O'Bannon (DD-450) and USS Carpenter (DD-825) from ALL HANDS magazine dated April 1960.		Stanley Svec/Robert Hurst
	157k	USS O'Bannon (DD 450) underway in 1961. Photo courtesy of Life magazine.		Bill Gonyo
	171k	USS O'Bannon (DD 450) underway in 1961. Photo courtesy of Life magazine.		Bill Gonyo
	181k	USS Currituck (AV-7), USS Maddox (DD-731), USS Brush (DD-745), USS Jenkins (DD-447) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) at Okinawa circa 1961-1962.		Gary Priolo
	314k 273k	Yokosuka, October 7 1961, with the O'Bannon and 10 other destroyers being serviced by the USS Piedmont (AD-17)		Ed Zajkowski
	37k	Circa 1963, location unknown.		Robert Hurst
	173k	December 1963, Hawaii, Students of Farrington High School are given a survival demo during their tour of the ship. Photo DAVA # 1098552 by G A Worthington.		Ed Zajkowski
	65k	May 1966 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.		Larry Backus
	86k	The Captain John William Wells on the bridge wing, June 25 1966 in Subic Bay.		© Richard Leonhardt
	122k	Subic Bay Philippine Islands, July 1966		© Richard Leonhardt
	78k	Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, July 5 1966		© Richard Leonhardt
	189k	Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, July 6 1966		© Richard Leonhardt
	162k	USS O'Bannon (DD-450) underway, while serving with USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) in the Sea of Japan, 1968. She had been redesignated from DDE-450 to DD-450 in 1962, but remains in DDE configuration. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107450.		Robert Hurst
	137k	USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) steams in formation with USS Nicholas (DD-449) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) in the Gulf of Tonkin, 6 March 1968. Source: United States National Archives,USN 1130804.		Robert Hurst
	71k	Off Oahu Hawaii, October 1968.		© Richard Leonhardt
	184k	Pearl Harbor, December 1968.		© Richard Leonhardt
	82k	Pearl Harbor Hawaii, December 1968.		© Richard Leonhardt
	81k	Pearl Harbor Hawaii, December 1968.		© Richard Leonhardt
	83k	Mid-Pacific, April 16 1969.		© Richard Leonhardt
	84k	Mid-Pacific, April 16 1969.		© Richard Leonhardt
	197k	O'Bannon in May 1972 at the Mare Island Inactive Ship Facility prior to her towing to the scrap heap.		Darryl Baker
	202k	As above.		Darryl Baker
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP USS O’BANNON (DD-450) for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For outstanding performance in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the South Pacific from October 7, 1942, to October 7, 1943. An aggressive veteran after a year of continuous and intensive operations in this area, the U.S.S. O’BANNON has taken a tremendous toll of vital Japanese warships, surface vessels and aircraft. Launching a close range attack on hostile combatant ships off Guadalcanal on the night of November 13, 1942, the O’BANNON scored three torpedo hits on a Japanese battleship, boldly engaged two other men o’ war with gunfire and retired safely in spite of damage sustained. During three days of incessant hostilities in July 1943, she gallantly stood down Kula Gulf to bombard enemy shore positions in coverage of our assault groups, later taking a valiant part in the rescue of survivors from the torpedoed U.S.S STRONG while under fierce coastal battery fire and aerial bombing attack and adding her fire power toward the destruction of a large Japanese naval force. In company with two destroyers, the O’BANNON boldly intercepted and repulsed nine hostile warships off Vella Lavella on October 7, 1943, destroying two enemy ships and damaging others. Although severely damaged, she stood by to take aboard and care for survivors of a friendly torpedoed destroyer and retired to base under her own power. The O’BANNON’s splendid achievements and the gallant fighting spirit of her officers and men reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service." For the President, /s/ Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy				Bill Gonyo
	56k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski

CDR Edwin Richard Wilkinson    Jun 26 1942 - Jan 19 1943 (Later RADM)

CDR Donald John MacDonald    Jan 19 1943 - Mar 1 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert William Smith    Mar 1 1944 - Dec 23 1944

CDR James Arthur Pridmore    Dec 23 1944 - May 21 1946

(Decommissioned May 21 1946 - Feb 19 1951)

CDR Daniel Jordan Carrison    Feb 19 1951 - Apr 11 1952

CDR Edward Boyce Jarman    Apr 11 1952 - Jun 26 1954

CDR John Frank Maddox Jr.    Jun 26 1954 - Dec 20 1955

LCDR Edward Lull Cochrane Jr.    Dec 20 1955 - Mar 4 1956

CDR Louie Woodrow (Woo) Barnard    Mar 4 1956 - Apr 4 1958

LCDR Basil Duffield Slaymaker    Apr 4 1958 - Apr 13 1960

CDR David Sloane Stanley    Apr 13 1960 - Mar 31 1962

CDR David Lowry Miller    Mar 31 1962 - Mar 3 1964

CDR Thomas Fletcher Utegaard    Mar 3 1964 - Jan 22 1965

CDR Alan Jarman Kaye    Jan 22 1965 - Oct 8 1965

CAPT John William Wells    Oct 8 1965 - Jun 26 1968

CAPT John Paul Iredale    Jun 26 1968 - Jan 3 1970