USS Albert W . Grant ( DD - 649 ) USS " Albert W . Grant " ( DD - 649 ) was a " Fletcher " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the only ship named for Vice Admiral Albert W . Grant ( 1856 – 1930 ) , an admiral during World War I . " Albert W . Grant " was laid down on 30 December 1942 at North Charleston , South Carolina , by the Charleston Navy Yard ; launched on 29 May 1943 , sponsored by Miss Nell Preston Grant , granddaughter of Admiral Grant ; and commissioned on 24 November 1943 , Commander T . A . Nisewaner in command . That day , the destroyer departed Charleston Navy Yard for a shakedown cruise to Bermuda and returned to Charleston Navy Yard on 29 January 1944 for minor alterations . Service history . 1944 . " Albert W . Grant " headed for Norfolk , Virginia , on 8 February , and five days later , she got underway to escort to Hawaii . They transited the Panama Canal , joined more ships at San Diego , and finally arrived at Pearl Harbor on 4 March . On 4 April , the destroyer sailed for Majuro where she joined TF 58 for the invasion at Hollandia . During that New Guinea operation , from 21 to 29 April , " Grant " engaged in picket duty , inshore patrol duty , and covered landing force operations . On 29 April , she headed for the Caroline Islands with TG 58 . 3 and screened the carriers during strikes on Truk . The task group left for Majuro on 2 May and continued on to Pearl Harbor , arriving there on 11 May . Marianas , Palaus and Philippines campaigns . After a brief respite , " Albert W . Grant " got underway on 29 May for Eniwetok , which served as the staging area for the invasion of the Marianas . On 11 June , she sailed to Saipan and commenced her gunfire support activities on 15 June . The destroyer was also involved in action against Tinian . She departed the Saipan area on 29 July and put in to Eniwetok on 2 August . Following a brief upkeep period , the destroyer got underway for Purvis Bay , Solomon Islands , on 22 August . The ship sortied with TG 32 . 5 on 6 September for the assault on the Palaus and , during a two - week period in mid - September , conducted pre - invasion bombardment and supported the landings on Peleliu and Angaur . On 29 September , she left for Manus Island . The destroyer remained there through 12 October , then sailed for the Philippines as a member of TG 77 . 2 . On 17 October , " Grant " provided protection for while that fast transport landed troops on Suluan Island , Philippines . From 17 to 24 October , the destroyer provided fire support for the assault on Leyte . Leyte Gulf . On 24 October , " Albert W . Grant " joined TG 77 . 2 and sailed to engage a Japan ese task force reported steaming northward from the Sulu Sea toward Surigao Strait . That American battleship group met the Japanese force in the Battle of Surigao Strait , and " Grant " , along with other destroyers in advance of the main battle line , conducted a torpedo attack . During this attack , she was hit and severely damaged by gunfire , not only Japanese naval forces , but also by its covering US battleships . " Grant " suffered 22 hits , many by six - inch shells . Fires broke out , and the ship lost steering control and all power . Thirty - eight men were killed and 104 were wounded . Although their ship was down by the bow and listing heavily to port , the destroyer ' s crew got her engines working again and enabled her to retire to American - controlled waters in Leyte Gulf . While en route to Leyte , " Grant " weathered a typhoon before reaching the anchorage . Following temporary repairs , the ship sailed for Pearl Harbor on 30 October under tow by . She stopped en route at Seeadler Harbor and Majuro . " Grant " reached Pearl Harbor on 29 November and , three days later , sailed for Mare Island , California . Following her arrival on 9 December , the destroyer underwent major repair work . 1945 . " Albert W . Grant " left the shipyard on 11 March 1945 and headed for Pearl Harbor . She arrived there on 25 March and began underway training exercises . On 23 April , the destroyer sailed for the Philippines . " Grant " reached Leyte on 13 May . She stood out of Manila on 3 June to escort General of the Army Douglas MacArthur , embarked in , on a tour of the Philippines . " Grant " then sailed southwest toward Brunei Bay , Borneo , to rendezvous with TG 78 . 1 for the assault on Brunei Bay . On 10 June , she covered the landings there . The ship rejoined the MacArthur tour on the 11th and dropped anchor at Manila on 15 June . " Grant " operated in Manila Bay until 27 June , when she got underway for Balikpapan , Borneo . From 30 June to 9 July , the destroyer covered operations against Balikpapan . She was back at Manila on 14 July . " Grant " then moved to the Marshalls and , upon her arrival at Eniwetok on 3 August , joined TF 49 for duty in the North Pacific . She sailed to Adak , Alaska , and the day before she arrived there , received word of the Japanese capitulation on 15 August , and sortied with TF 49 for Ominato , Japan . The task force arrived off Honshū on 8 September and anchored at Ominato on the 10th . The destroyer remained on occupation duty in Japan through mid - November . " Grant " then sailed back to the United States . She arrived at Seattle , Washington , on 2 December , and upon her arrival , began overhaul . The destroyer was placed out of commission , in reserve at San Diego , on 16 July 1946 . Her name was struck from the Navy list on 14 April 1971 , and she was sold for scrapping . Awards . " Albert W . Grant " received seven battle star s for World War II and a Navy Unit Commendation for the Battle of Surigao Strait .