From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. I, p. 91

Born 30 May 1915 in Niles, Ohio, George Bangust enlisted in the Navy in 1938. He received a posthumous Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a waist gunner of a PBY during a bombing attack against Japanese shipping in Jolo Harbor, Philippine Islands, 27 December 1941. Aviation Machinist Mate, Second Class Bangust died the same day from wounds and injuries received during that attack.

(DE-739: dp. 1240; l. 306'; b. 36' 8"; dr. 11' 8"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 186; a. 3 3", 3 21" TT.; cl. Cannon)

Bangust (DE-739) was launched 6 June 1943 by Western Pipe and Steel Co., Los Angeles, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. Stephen W. Gerber; commissioned 30 October 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. F. MacNish, USNR, in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet .

Between February 1944 and August 1946 Bangust escorted various logistic groups during the occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (6-8 February 1944); Palau-Yap-Ulithi-Woleai raid (30 March-1 April); occupation of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian (18 Jun e-11 August), Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June); occupation of the southern Palau Islands and the assault on the Philippine Islands (11 September-13 October); Leyte operation (18 October-26 December); 3rd Fleet raids on Formosa, China coast, and t he Nansei Shoto in support of the Luzon operation (14-25 January 1945); occupation of Iwo Jima (16 February-5 March); 5th and 3rd Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation (26 March-10 June ), and 3rd Fleet raids against Japan (10-18 July and 29 Jul y-15 August).

At 2314 on 10 June 1944, Bangust, proceeding independently from Pearl Harbor to Kwajalein, made radar contact with what upon closer investigation proved to be a surfaced Japanese submarine. The submarine quickly dove but between 0001 and 0152, 11 June Bangust made four hedgehog attacks, the last of which sank the Japanese submarine RO-42, in 10°05' N., 158°22' E.

Bangust returned to the United States in the fall of 1945, was decommissioned 17 November 1946; and on 21 February 1952 was transferred to Peru under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

Bangust received 11 battle stars for her World War II service.