She participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific War earning a total of 15 battle stars, 8 different battle ribbons, 7 medals, and one Presidential Unit Citation from the Philippines. During her first battle in August of 1942, exposure became imperative when the Japanese gathered powerful forces at the Battle of the Eastern Solomon’s, to destroy the American task force. USS North Carolina was escorting USS Enterprise when dive bombers began fiercely attacking the ship. “The Battleship’s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier Enterprise, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers.”

She participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area earning a total of 15 battle stars, 8 different battle ribbons, 7 medals, and one Presidential Unit Citation from the Philippines. During her first battle in August of 1942, exposure became imperative when the Japanese gathered powerful forces at the Battle of the Eastern Solomon’s, to destroy the American task force. USS North Carolina was escorting USS Enterprise when dive bombers began fiercely attacking the ship. “The Battleship’s anti-aircraft barrage helped save the carrier Enterprise, thereby establishing the primary role of the fast battleship as protector of aircraft carriers.”