USS Bunch (DE-694) was a of the United States Navy, named after Kenneth Cecil Bunch, killed in action on 6 June 1942 while flying as radioman-gunner in an SBD Dauntless dive bomber during the Battle of Midway. Bunch was a native of Norman County, Minnesota. Construction Bunch was launched on 29 May 1943, by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company, in Bay City, Michigan, sponsored by Mrs. Kenneth C. Bunch, widow of Aviation Radioman Kenneth Cecil Bunch; and commissioned on 21 August 1943. Service history Atlantic convoy escort, 1943–1944 After fitting out, Bunch departed Southwest Pass on 12 September 1943. She proceeded via Key West, Florida, and carried out her shakedown training near Bermuda until 15 October when she set course for Boston. Following post-shakedown availability at the Boston Navy Yard, the warship moved to New York whence she began her escort work on 1 November by shepherding the New York section of Convoy UGS-23 out of coastal waters. That same day, she made a sonar contact and attacked it with two "Hedgehog" patterns, though she later evaluated it as "non-submarine." Released the following day, Bunch proceeded to Hampton Roads, where she reported for duty with Task Force (TF) 23. Over the next eight months, the destroyer escort made six round-trip voyages across the Atlantic escorting convoys between New York and Derry, punctuating that work with refresher training at Casco Bay, Maine, and availabilities at Boston. Conversion to a high-speed transport, 1944 On 28 July, Bunch began conversion to a high speed transport at the Naval Frontier Base, Tompkinsville, Staten Island. Redesignated APD-79 on 31 July 1944, she was also fitted out as a flagship during the 11 weeks of modifications. She completed conversion on 12 October and departed New York on the 13th. Steaming first to Hampton Roads and thence up the Chesapeake Bay, Bunch briefly visited Annapolis, Maryland, before she began training duty in the Bay. Between 23 October and 10 December, Bunch helped to prepare 11 other crews for their service in high-speed transports. Pacific Fleet, 1943–1944 Following an availability at the St. Helena Annex, Bunch departed Norfolk on 20 December 1944 in company with to escort the transports , and , to the Canal Zone. Arriving in Panama on Christmas Day 1944, she transited the canal the following day, reported to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, for duty and ultimately reached San Diego on 3 January 1945.