The BALTIMORE (CA-68) was launched July 28, 1942, commissioned April 15, 1943, and reported to the Pacific Fleet. Between November 1943 and June 1944 BALTIMORE was a unit of the fire support and covering forces at the operations in the Southeast Asia. In July 1944, she embarked President Roosevelt and his party and steamed to Pearl Harbor. Returning to the war zone in November 1944, she was assigned to the 3rd Fleet. On January 26, 1945 she joined the 5th Fleet for her final operations of the war: Honshu Island attacks; Iwo Jima operation; and the 5th Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation. After the cessation of hostilities BALTIMORE served as a unit of the “Magic Carpet” fleet and then as a part of the naval occupation force in Japan BALTIMORE received nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific during World War II.