USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103)

USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103): Pennsylvania's Pacific Cruiser

Commissioned on 1 July 1944, USS Wilkes-Barre was a Cleveland-class light cruiser that earned four battle stars in the final year of the Pacific War. Named for the Pennsylvania coal country city in the Wyoming Valley, she carried Appalachian America's name through the carrier task force operations that characterized the Pacific campaign's final phase.

Wilkes-Barre entered the Pacific in late 1944 and joined the fast carrier task forces conducting strikes throughout the Philippines and toward the Japanese home islands. She participated in operations during the Philippines campaign, the massive effort to liberate the archipelago from Japanese occupation that had begun with the Leyte landings in October 1944.

Through 1945, Wilkes-Barre participated in the carrier strikes against the Japanese home islands, raids against Kyushu, Honshu, and Japanese naval facilities at Kure and Yokosuka that were steadily degrading Japan's ability to continue the war. She was present for the operations that preceded Japan's surrender and was in Japanese waters when the formal surrender took place in Tokyo Bay.

Four battle stars for service through some of the Pacific War's most intense operations. Wilkes-Barre was decommissioned on 9 October 1947. Tactically Acquired's USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103) collection honors Pennsylvania's contribution to the Pacific campaign and the coal country crew who served aboard her.