Kendall C. Campbell was launched 19 March 1944 by the
Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.,
Newark, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Carl B. Campbell; and commissioned 31 July 1944.
Kendall C. Campbell departed
New York 20 August 1944 for
shakedown exercises off
Bermuda. Ten days later she departed
Norfolk, Virginia, transited the
Panama Canal, and arrived
Pearl Harbor 30 October. The destroyer escort was assigned to
hunter-killer operations out of
Hawaii with and performed this duty until she sailed for
Ulithi 24 November. She immediately commenced
ASW patrols designed to keep the supply lanes to the
Marianas and Western
Carolines open. Anxiously awaiting her first major encounter,
Campbell put to sea 1 January 1945, and sortied with the
Luzon Attack Force for the invasion of
Lingayen Gulf. She returned to Ulithi 5 February for a short overhaul period, departing 2 weeks later for carrier escort duty during the occupation of
Iwo Jima. When the
volcano island was secure,
Kendall C. Campbell put into Ulithi to prepare for the
Okinawa invasion. The destroyer escort sailed 21 March accompanying
escort carriers as they unleashed air raids in the pre-invasion strikes against Japanese positions on Okinawa. After the American assault forces hit the beach 1 April,
Kendall C. Campbell stood by until the island was free of enemy resistance and offered all possible support to the successful campaign. As the war moved closer to the enemy homeland, on 26 June
Campbell joined the Logistics Support Group, which operated northeast of
Honshū, during the carrier strikes on Japan's home islands. In early August she searched for Japanese
submarines southeast of Okinawa Gunto and was on this mission when the fighting ended. During the first week of September she furnished ASW patrols for the
Tokyo Occupation Force en route to Japan. After escorting a group of 54
LST's from Tokyo to
Manila, she returned to
Yokosuka 16 October.
Kendall C. Campbell received four battle stars for World War II service
Kendall C. Campbell departed Japan 4 November, arriving
San Pedro, Los Angeles, 22 November. The destroyer escort decommissioned at
San Diego, California, 31 May 1946 and joined the
Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was berthed at
Stockton, California. On 15 January 1972 she was struck from the
Navy List, and, on 15 January 1973, she was sold for scrapping. == References ==