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After a spell of escort duty, the destroyer USS Gleaves (DD-423) left Boston in May 1942 to support the Allied landings on Sicily. During her operations in the battle zone, she accepted the surrender of the Italian garnison on Ustica, and drove off 5 E Boats preying on shipping in Palermo harbour. In September 1943 she was at Alemo clearing the way for the landing forces, she provided decisive fire power at Anzio in January 1944, and then moved north to support the Rangers in the invasion of southern France. Stationed off San Remo in October, she engaged a number of enemy craft and, by violent manoeuvring and the use of depth charges and accurate fire, sank 5 of them and captured two operators who provided the Allies with vital information. In December 1944 she was deployed as fire support ship near Allied positions on the Franco-Italian border. With 5 battle stars to her credit, she sailed for the US in February 1945.
