USS Cabana (DE-260)

USS Cabana (DE-260) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. The namesake of this ship, Napoleon Joseph Cabana, was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on 26 March 1911, Cabana enlisted in the Navy on 17 March 1930 and was appointed machinist on 2 February 1941. As assistant safety engineer of the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, he was killed in action during Japanese attacks on that base on 12 December 1941.

Cabana was launched on 10 March 1943 by Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. E. Cabana; and commissioned on 9 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander R. L. Bence, USNR, in command.

USS Cabana was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with seven battle stars, a very high number for a ship of her type.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Clearing Norfolk, Virginia, on 2 October 1943, Cabana arrived at Pearl Harbor on 26 October. From this base she screened the tanker units supporting Task Force 53 in its strikes in the Ellice and Gilbert Islands during the invasion of the latter. After a convoy escort voyage to San Francisco, she cleared Pearl Harbor on 28 January 1944 to guard vulnerable transports bound for the occupation of Kwajalein. Cabana returned to Pearl Harbor on 15 February to join the screen of tankers destined for the essential task of refueling ships engaged in the continuing operations in the Marshall Islands. Displaying her anti-submarine capabilities, Cabana patrolled with a hunter-killer group from Majuro through March and April 1944, then returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Marianas operation. Through the summer she offered fire support, radar picket, and escort services as Saipan, Guam, and Tinian were added to the growing list of American victories. On 18 September she arrived at Guadalcanal to escort invasion forces to the southern Palau Islands, then continued convoy voyages to Ulithi and Peleliu as the Palaus operation came to its close. Cabana returned to Pearl Harbor 21 November for training, and on 11 February 1945 sailed guarding transports to provide reinforcements for the invasion of Iwo Jima. She patrolled off that island from 7 to 20 March, then returned to the United States for a brief overhaul. Cabana rejoined United States Third Fleet units operating from Ulithi and Guam on 17 July 1945, and until the close of the war screened the logistics support group as the mighty air power of the 3rd Fleet smashed at the Japanese home islands.

End-of-War activity
On 20 September she entered Tokyo Bay escorting tankers to refuel the occupation fleet, and after a month of service as weather station ship off Pearl Harbor, returned to Mare Island, California, on 25 November 1945.

Post-War decommissioning
Cabana was decommissioned on 9 January 1946 and sold on 13 May 1947.

Awards
Cabana received seven battle stars for World War II service.