Informediate is proud to host the websites for two World War II US Navy warships and their crews: the USS Rich DE-695 and the USS Bunch DE-694/APD-79.

After six months of escort duty in the Atlantic, the Buckley class Destroyer Escort USS Rich saw action at Normandy during the D-Day invasion, running cover for US battleships off Utah and Omaha beaches. On June 8th, 1944 while responding to a distress call from a damaged destroyer, the Rich was sunk by three German mines near Utah beach suffering heavy casualties. Ninety one percent of the USS Rich crew were killed or wounded, the highest casualty rate per capita of any naval vessel during WWII.

USS Bunch, sister ship of the Rich, served in the Atlantic as a Destroyer Escort from the fall of 1943 until the summer of 1944. In July, 1944 she was refit as a high speed transport and sent to the Pacific as the parent for underwater demolition team 21. During the 82 day Battle of Okinawa, the Bunch saw extensive action, participating in fire support, beach clearing, screening, anti-aircraft, and rescue activities. The Bunch received two battle stars for her service during WWII.