The Battle History, page 5 “The USS COLUMBIA was named for the city of Columbia, S.C., and she was the second cruiser of her
class to be built. She was authorized on May 17, 1938, and her building contract was placed with New York Shipbuilding Corporation
in Camden, N. J. Her keel was laid on August 19, 1940, and on the 17th day of December, 1941, she was launched.
Miss Jean Adams Paschal, daughter of the acting mayor, in 1941, of Columbia, S. C., was accorded the honor of smashing the
traditional bottle of champ against the COLUMBIA’s bow.”