USS Macdonough ( DD - 351 ) The third USS " Macdonough " ( DD - 351 ) was a " Farragut " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Thomas Macdonough . " Macdonough " was laid down 15 May 1933 by the Boston Navy Yard ; launched 22 August 1934 ; sponsored by Miss Rose Shaler Macdonough , granddaughter of Commodore Thomas Macdonough ; and commissioned 15 March 1935 , Commander Charles S . Alden in command . Pearl Harbor . Following an extensive shakedown cruise to Europe and western South America , " Macdonough " joined the Pacific Fleet and operated out of San Diego , California until 12 October 1939 . She then shifted to a new home port , Pearl Harbor , as part of Destroyer Squadron 1 . In port 7 December 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor , " Macdonough " downed one of the Japan ese attack planes before heading out to sea to join others in the search for the Japanese task force . For the next 3½ months , the destroyer performed scouting assignments southwest of Oahu . Before returning to Pearl Harbor to escort convoys to and from west coast ports , she steamed as far as New Guinea , supporting airstrikes on Bougainville , Salamaua , and Lae . Guadalcanal . " Macdonough " returned to the western Pacific to prepare for the Guadalcanal invasion . Operating with " Saratoga " , she provided cover for the landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi , 7 August 1942 . She remained in the area , taking part in the Battle of Savo Island and fighting aircraft and shipping during the landing of reinforcements on the island . At the end of September , she commenced escort work between New Guinea , Espiritu Santo , and Pearl Harbor until reporting to Mare Island , 22 December , for overhaul . Aleutians Campaign . " Macdonough " next steamed north for the assault and occupation of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands . Arriving at Adak , Alaska , 16 April 1943 , the destroyer patrolled northeast of Attu until the assault . On 10 May , while maneuvering in heavy weather to guard the attack transports , she collided with " Sicard " and was forced to retire under tow . The ship remained in the repairs dock at Mare Island until 23 September , when she prepared to get underway for the Gilbert Islands . Arriving for the invasion of Makin Island , 20 November , she acted as control vessel for the landing craft , and following the completion of that phase of the operation , entered the lagoon to bombard Japanese installations . On 23 November Makin was declared secure and " Macdonough " returned to Pearl Harbor . Marshall Islands . In January 1944 , she joined the Northern Attack Force staging for the assault on the Marshall Islands . As the primary fighter director ship for the initial transport group , " Macdonough " at first operated off Kwajalein Atoll . On 29 January , she proceeded to Wotje Atoll and participated in the shore bombardment there until returning to Kwajalein on the 31st for the occupation of Root and Namur Island s . The destroyer then took up radar picket duties until proceeding on to Eniwetok Atoll . On 21 and 22 February , " Macdonough " shelled Japanese positions on Parry Island at the deep entrance to Eniwetok lagoon . A month later , she was a reference and rendezvous ship for carrier TF 58 , then striking the Palau Islands . Continuing her varied pace , she was at Hollandia , New Guinea , by 21 April , providing fire support for the landings there . Then , at the end of the mouth she steamed eastward to take up radar picket duty south of Truk . During this assignment , " Macdonough " , with " Monterey " and " Stephen Potter " , sank Japanese submarine RO - 45 , 30 April 1944 . Marianas Campaign . On 4 May , the destroyer arrived at Majuro to join the forces gathering for the invasion of the Marianas . Departing the Marshalls 6 June , " Macdonough " operated with the fast carrier force during the Saipan invasion . She performed screening and picket duties and was part of the bombardment group firing on Japanese installations on the west side of the Island . She next took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea , 19 to 20 June , firing at the few enemy planes which got through the combat air patrol . Ordered to Guam , she covered underwater demolition teams reconnoitering the beaches and provided harassing fire to prevent repairs to beach defenses on the island . On 21 July , the destroyer patrolled the waters off Guam to protect the assault craft from enemy submarines , continuing that role until departing for Hawaii 10 August . Philippines . After a brief stay at Pearl Harbor , " Macdonough " departed for the Admiralty Islands . She arrived at Manus on 15 September and commenced escort duties . On 14 October , she accompanied troop transports to Leyte and remained through the Battle of Leyte Gulf , 24 to 25 October . She then steamed back to Manus for another convoy to Leyte , 3 November , and upon her return to Philippine waters patrolled Leyte Gulf and the southern Surigao Strait area . The next mouth , " Macdonough " resumed escort duty . Operating out of Ulithi , she guarded fleet oilers on their refueling runs in the Philippine , Formosa , and South China Sea areas . In January 1945 , the destroyer sailed for Puget Sound and a 3 - month overhaul period . Returning to Ulithi , she was assigned to radar picket station off that island until 5 July , when she resumed screening convoys . For the remainder of the war , she protected Allied shipping between Ulithi and Okinawa . End of World War II and fate . At Guam when hostilities ended , " Macdonough " soon received orders to return to the United States . She arrived at San Diego 3 September , continuing on the next week to the New York Navy Yard , where she decommissioned 22 October 1945 . On 20 December 1946 , she was sold to George H . Nutman of Brooklyn , New York . " Macdonough " received 13 battle star s for World War II service .