The Fletcher-class destroyer O’Bannon, known as the “Lucky O,” had an illustrious World War II career, becoming the most decorated U.S. Navy destroyer of the war for its participation in protecting “The Slot.”

The Slot was a narrow sea lane through the Solomon Islands, of which U.S. naval forces violently battled the Japanese Combined Fleet for control. For their efforts, the destroyer and its crew earned 17 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

The ship also became, perhaps, the first and last to sink an enemy submarine through the ingenious use of potatoes — allegedly.

April 5, 1943

While patrolling The Slot on the night of April 5, 1943, O’Bannon made radar contact with a surfaced Japanese submarine, the RO-34, at a range of 7,000 yards.

The ship’s skipper, Lt. Cmdr. Donal

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