USS Bataan (CVL-29) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier commissioned into the Navy in 1943 in Camden, New Jersey.
As part of the Pacific Fleet, her planes helped support attacks on New Guinea, Truk, Satawan, Ponape, Saipan, Mariana Islands, Bonins, and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Following this activity, Bataan returned to the U.S. for necessary repairs and overhaul.
Once she was repaired, Bataan rejoined the conflict by providing support for the invasion of Okinawa where she helps sink the Yamato and I-56. After participating operations against the Japanese home islands, she retired back to the States. She was deactivated in 1947.
She returned to battle during the Korean War in 1951. Dusted off and ready for action, she reported for duty in Bremerton, Washington and set off for Tokyo Bay, loaded with cargo and personnel. After participating in air exercises and training off the coast of Okinawa, she began to sail between Japan and Korea, hauling supplies and personnel and administering strikes.
For her service in both wars, she earned a total of 13 battle stars (6 for WWII and 7 for the Korean War).
After returning to the States for the final time, she was decommissioned and sold for scrapping in 1961.