The namesake of this ship, Napoleon Joseph Cabana, was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on 26 March , Cabana enlisted in the Navy on 17 March and was appointed machinist on 2 February As assistant safety engineer of the Cavite Navy Yard , Philippines, he was killed in action during Japanese attacks on that base on 12 December Cabana; and commissioned on 9 July USS Cabana was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and aircraft.
She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with seven battle stars , a very high number for a ship of her type. From this base she screened the tanker units supporting Task Force 53 in its strikes in the Ellice and Gilbert Islands during the invasion of the latter. After a convoy escort voyage to San Francisco, she cleared Pearl Harbor on 28 January to guard vulnerable transports bound for the occupation of Kwajalein.
Cabana returned to Pearl Harbor on 15 February to join the screen of tankers destined for the essential task of refueling ships engaged in the continuing operations in the Marshall Islands.
Displaying her anti-submarine capabilities, Cabana patrolled with a hunter-killer group from Majuro through March and April , then returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Marianas operation.
Through the summer she offered fire support, radar picket, and escort services as Saipan , Guam , and Tinian were added to the growing list of American victories.
