USS Spangler
USS Spangler (DE-696) was a of the United States Navy. Namesake Donald Hays Spangler was born on 29 May 1918 in Albion, Indiana. He was appointed midshipman at the United States Naval Academy on 8 July 1938 and commissioned Ensign on 19 December 1941. He reported for duty on the at Boston, Massachusetts, on 3 January 1942. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) to date from 1 October 1942. He was killed in action when Atlanta was heavily damaged during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands on 13 November 1942. Construction and commissioning Spangler was laid down on 28 April 1943 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan. She was launched on 15 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Myrtle Spangler; and commissioned on 31 October 1943, with Lieutenant Commander W. A. Burgett in command. Service history World War II, 1943–1945 After shakedown in the vicinity of Bermuda, Spangler joined a convoy on 24 December 1943, and headed for the Pacific via the Panama Canal. She arrived at Bora Bora in the Society Islands, on 20 January 1944. There she received orders to rendezvous with convoy Task Unit 116.15.3 as the flagship of