STARS & BARS
U.S.S. Welles DD-628

RIBBONS AND OPERATION AND ENGAGEMENT STARS EARNED
BY THE U.S.S. WELLES

AMERICAN AREA SERVICE RIBBON -- NO STARS

Service in American Area 16-21, 26-30 September 1943
1, 23-26 October 1943
10-13, 15-30 November 1943
1-4, 26-29 December 1943
2-11 January 1944
13-15 July 1945
29-30 September 1945
1-20 October 1945
1-3 November 1945

ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA SERVICE RIBBON -- EIGHT STARS

Service in Asiatic-Pacific Area 12 January 1944 - 12 July 1945

<*> BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO
OPERATION 15 February - 1 April 1944
Cape Gloucester, New Britain 18-24 February 1944
Admiralty Islands Landings 28 February - 1 April 1944

<*> HOLLANDIA OPERATIONS 21 April - 10 May 1944
Aitape [Note 1]
Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay

<*> WESTERN NEW GUINEA OPERATIONS 21 April - 2 August 1944
Biak Island Operation 25 May - 5 June 1944
Noemfoor Island Operation 2-4 July 1944
Cape Sansapor Operation 27-July - 2 August 1944

<*> WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION 6 September - 6 October 1944
Capture and occupation of the Southern Palau Islands

6-September - 6 October 1944

<*> LEYTE OPERATION 10 October - 16 December 1944
Leyte Landings 12-29 October 1944
Battle for Leyte Gulf

(Battle of Surigao Straits) 24-26 October 1944
THIRD FLEET Supporting Operations
Luzon Attacks 13-14, 19 November 1944
14-16 December 1944

<*> LUZON OPERATION 6-16 January 1945
THIRD FLEET Supporting Operations
(with Logistical Support Force)
Luzon Attacks 6-7 January 1945
China Coast Attacks 12-16 January 1945

<*> IWO JIMA OPERATION 16 February - 3 March 1945
Assault and Occupation of Iwo Jima
(with Logistical Support Force) 16 February - 3 March 1945

<*> OKINAWA GUNTO OPERATION 16 March - 24 May 1945
Assault and Occupation of Okinawa GUNTO (with Logistical Support Force)

16 March - 5 April 1945
1-May -24 May 1945


VICTORY RIBBON

PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON -- TWO STARS

(Awarded by the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines)

Participated in Initial Landings on Leyte
Participated in engagement against enemy in Philippine waters 17-20 October 1944

Served 62 days in Philippine Waters 16-30 October 1944
7, 11-15, 18-20 November 1944
13-19 December 1944
4-5, 7-24 January 1945
11-21 June 1945


[Note 1]: Official Navy records show the Welles to have received eight (8) battle stars. This is in accord with “NAVPERS 15,790 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual,” and with the historical records in “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships” published by the Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. The official U.S. awards do not include the Victory Ribbon awarded by the Philippines. However, the Awards Manual does list the Hollandia Operation (Aitape Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay), 21 Apr - 1 Jun 44, as a separate action and qualification for an additional battle star which was not included in the Western New Guinea Operations as shown.

(Researched by Thomas J. Rosenthal, CRT (Chief Radio Technician))