USS Boston (CA-69)

Boston reported to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at Pearl Harbor 6 December 1943. She joined TF 58 in January and took part in the raids on the Marshall Islands in support of the invasions of Kwajalein, Majuro, and Eniwetok (31 January-28 February 1944); Palaus and Western Carolines (30 March-1 April); Hollandia[?] and Western New Guinea (21-24 April); Truk, including Satawan Island[?], bombardment (29 April-1 May); invasion of Saipan (11-24 June); 1st Bonins[?] raid (15-16 June); Battle of the Philippine Sea[?] (19-20 June); 2nd Bonins raid (24-26 June); 3rd Bonins raid (3-4 July) invasion of Guam (12 July-15 August); Palau-Yap-Ulithi raid (25-27 July); Morotai[?] landings (15 September); seizure of the southern Palaus (6 September-14 October); and Philippine Islands raids (9-24 September). She served with TF 38 during the Okinawa raid (10 October); northern Luzon and Formosa raid (11-14 October); Luzon raids (15 and 24-26 October, 13-14 and 19-20 November, and 14-16 December); Battle of Leyte Gulf (24-26 Octo ber); Formosa raids (3-4, 9, 15, and 21 January 1945); Luzon raids (6-7 January); China coast raids (12 and 16 January); Nansei Shoto[?] raid (22 January); Honshu and Nansei Shoto raids (15-16 February and 1 March), in which she bombarded Japan itself.

Boston then returned to the United States for overhaul, arriving at Long Beach, California, 25 March 1945. Returning to the Western Pacific, via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, she joined TF 38 for the raids on the Japanese home islands (20 July-15 August), including the bombardment of Kamaishi[?], Honshu (9 August). Following the Japanese surrender Boston remained in the Far East on occupation duty until 28 February 1946. She then returned to the United States and was placed out of commission in reserve at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 12 March 1946.

Boston was reclassified CAG-1 on 4 January 1952. In February 1952 she was towed from Bremerton, Washington, to Philadelphia for conversion to a guided missile heavy cruiser[?] by New York Shipbuilding Corporation[?], Camden, New Jersey. During conversion her aft 8-inch turret was replaced with anti-aircraft missile launchers and she was otherwise modernized. Boston was recommissioned 1 November 1955 and operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean conducting missile evaluations and participating in fleet exercises until departing for the Mediterranean 23 November 1956. She returned in May 1957.

Boston was decommissioned 5 May 1970, stricken 1 April 1974, and sold for scrapping 28 March 1975.

Boston received ten battle stars for her World War II service.

(CA-69: dp. 13,600; l. 673'5"; b. 71'10"; dr. 26'10"; s. 33 k.; cpl. 1142; a. 9 8", 12 5"; cl. Baltimore)