temporary repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, then sailed on 1 October for San Francisco, arriving on 19 October. Repairs completed, Montgomery began ten months of activity which included two convoy escort voyages between San Francisco and Hawaii (8 December 1943 to 5 February 1944), defensive minelaying around Kwajalein (17 March to 4 April), convoy escort to Majuro (May 1944), and local convoy escort in the Hawaiians. Montgomery attacked an enemy submarine contact on 25 June 1944 without evident result. After an escort voyage to Eniwetok and return (28 June to 16 July), she sailed for Guadalcanal to prepare for the invasion of the Palaus. Getting underway for the assault on 6 September, Montgomery took station off Peleliu on 12 September to destroy mines swept from the Japanese minefields. On 17 September she screened transports landing assault troops on Angaur, and two days later sailed for mine destruction and patrol duties at Ulithi until 14 October. She bombarded Ngulu on 15 October and acted as mother ship for small minelayers during the capture of the atoll. While anchored off Ngulu on 17 October, with her engines secured, Montgomery sighted a mine floating close aboard to port. The wind swung the ship down onto the mine before she could get underway or destroy it. The resulting explosion flooded both engine rooms and one fireroom, ruptured fuel tanks, and killed four of her crew. Salvage efforts kept her afloat until she could be towed to Ulithi for repairs. Underway on her own power on 12 January 1945, Montgomery arrived at San Francisco on 14 February. There it was recommended that she be decommissioned, which she was on 23 April 1945. Montgomery was sold for scrapping on 11 March 1946. Awards Montgomery received four battle stars for World War II service. References External links NavSource Photos Hazegrey.org Wickes-class destroyers World War I destroyers of the United States World War II mine warfare vessels of the United States Ships built in Newport News, Virginia 1918 ships Ships present during the attack on Pearl Harbor Maritime incidents in October 1944