USS Prichett

James M. Prichett, born in Centreville, Ind., in 1836, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1857. Prior to the Civil War he served aboard Mississippi on the China Station, and in Richmond on the Mediterranean Station. Assigned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1861, he joined the Naval forces on the Mississippi River in 1862. On 4 July 1863, while commanding gunboat Tyler, he participated in, and won praise for, effective action in repulsing a superior Confederate force during the battle of Helena, Ark. He also commanded monitor Mahopac during the war. After the war he sailed with Admiral Farragut's expedition to Russia and, in 1869, returned to the Pacific Squadron. Lt. Comdr. Prichett died in 1871 while attached to receiving ship Vermont at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Prichett (DD-561) was laid down 20 July 1942 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash.; launched 31 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Orville A. Tucker; and commissioned 15 January 1944, Comdr. Cecil T. Caulfield in command.

Following shakedown Prichett sailed, 1 April 1944, for Majuro, thence to Manus where she joined the battleships of Task Force (TF) 58. On the 28th, the seven battleships and 14 destroers of Task Group (TG) 58.3 sortied and, rendezvousing with the fast carriers of TG 58.1, steamed northeast. On the 29th and 30th, while carrier aircraft bombed and strafed Japanese held airfields in the Carolines, Prichett served in the screen, where she rescued two Lexington (CV-16) aviators who ditched their damaged Grumman TBF Avenger . The next day, the surface warships bombarded wharfs, seaplane bases and other installations on Ponape before the entire force retired to Majuro, whence Prichett returned to Pearl Harbor.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Prichett (DD-561)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.