USS Hopewell ( DD - 681 ) USS " Hopewell " ( DD - 681 ) was a " Fletcher " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named in honour of the first " Hopewell " ( DD - 181 ) which was named for Pollard Hopewell of St . Mary ' s county Maryland . " Hopewell " was launched by Bethlehem Steel Company , San Pedro , California , 2 May 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . R . A . Spruance , wife of Admiral Raymond A . Spruance ; and commissioned at Terminal Island 30 September 1943 , Commander Corbin . C . Shute in command . World War II . " Hopewell " conducted shakedown training in the San Diego area before sailing for Hawaii 13 January 1944 . She got underway 23 January for the invasion of the Marshalls , as American amphibious task forces picked up momentum in their drive toward Japan . Steaming as a forward picket ship , " Hopewell " arrived off Kwajalein 31 January and delivered destructive gunfire support during the initial assault . That night she bombarded Roi and Namur Island s and 1 February moved to screening and patrol duties off the other islands of the group . With the success of the landings assured , " Hopewell " sailed to Pearl Harbor , arriving 24 February . The destroyer arrived Purvis Bay , Florida Islands , 14 March to take part in the developing offensive on the northern coast of New Guinea . She carried out screening and patrol assignments , and contributed shore bombardment during the Aitape landings , part of the bold Hollandia operation . After Aitape , an unopposed operation carried out 22 April , " Hopewell " remained with 7th Fleet patrolling and screening . With three other destroyers she carried out a bombardment of Japanese positions on New Ireland 29 May , and in June joined escort carrier " Hoggatt Bay " on antisubmarine patrol . " Hopewell ' s " next important operation was the invasion of Morotai , vitally necessary as an air base for the Philippines campaign to come . She arrived 16 September , the day after the initial landing , to assume screening duties , and shot down an attacking Japanese plane that day . On 18 September , she supported an auxiliary landing on Morotai , and sailed 25 September with a convoy for Humboldt Bay . The invasion of the Philippines began with the Leyte landings 20 October , and 4 days later " Hopewell " arrived with a reinforcement group . A damaged propeller kept her from taking part in the four - part Battle of Leyte Gulf , in which the Japanese Fleet suffered fatal defeat 24 – 25 October . Next day she departed in the van of a convoy and shaped course for Humboldt Bay , where repairs could be effected . At the eastern entrance to the Gulf the convoy was attacked , and in the battle that followed " Hopewell " made concealing smoke and shot down two aircraft . The veteran ship sailed again 8 November for Leyte , and after two trips from Humboldt Bay and return with convoys , she joined the Mindoro invasion forces . After fighting off heavy air attacks en route , " Hopewell " arrived off the assault area 15 December and provided fire support as troops stormed ashore . As air attacks continued , the ship helped fight fires on LST - 472 and assisted in shooting down other planes before sailing again for Leyte at noon . With Mindoro in allied hands , and air bases for the Luzon invasion under construction , " Hopewell " prepared for that operation , to be carried out initially at Lingayen Gulf . She sailed 4 January and fought off Japanese kamikaze attacks on the passage to Lingayen , for the landings 9 January joined the screen of an escort carrier group providing air cover . " Hopewell " joined in the amphibious assault on Corregidor 14 February , and while clearing obstructions from Mariveles Harbor with gunfire engaged a large battery on " the rock " . The destroyer laid smoke and moved in to help damaged YMS - 48 , and soon received four hits , putting her battery control station out of commission . Although suffering 17 casualties , " Hopewell " remained in Manila Bay until 18 February , when she sailed to Manus for repairs . The ship next continued to San Francisco , arriving 17 March , and after further repairs sailed for Pearl Harbor 28 May 1945 . Training operations in Hawaiian waters occupied her until 20 July , when she sailed for Eniwetok and Guam . The day of the Japanese surrender , " Hopewell " sailed from Guam with a refueling group supporting famed Task Force 38 which had done so much to bring victory . She operated in Japanese waters in support of the occupation until 21 October 1945 , when she sailed for the United States via Pearl Harbor . Arriving Puget Sound Navy Yard 8 November , she later moved to San Diego , where she decommissioned 15 January 1947 and was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Korean War . With the increased demands of the Korean War , " Hopewell " recommissioned 28 March 1951 at San Diego . Immediately following shakedown training she steamed westward to Korea 18 June , taking up screening duties with Task Force 77 as carrier based aircraft blasted Communist positions . The destroyer also bombarded Wonsan and served on the Formosa Patrol August – September 1951 , returning to Mare Island Yard 5 February 1952 . " Hopewell " sailed for her second tour in Korea 11 August 1952 after shakedown and training exercises . During this period of stalemate in the land war , the Navy continued to operate against supply lines and strong points , and " Hopewell " screened the carriers and heavy ships of Task Force 77 . Bombardment of Wonsan followed another period of Formosa Patrol , and in December the ship steamed to Formosa to help train Nationalist Chinese sailors . She returned briefly to Korea to screen battleship " Missouri " during bombardment operations late in January 1953 , and sailed for the United States 3 March 1953 . After operating off the California coast for several months on antisubmarine training , " Hopewell " sailed again for the Far East 27 October 1953 . She again took part in training exercises and patrol off Formosa , returning to San Diego 23 May 1954 . As she began her fourth cruise , a new crisis between Communist China and Formosa developed , and in February " Hopewell " assisted in the evacuation of the Tachen Islands . Following this Cold War operation , the destroyer took part in fleet exercises in the western Pacific , returning to San Diego 22 May 1955 . The veteran ship spent the remainder of 1955 on exercises off the coast . On 11 November during an amphibious training operation , a single engine attack bomber crashed into " Hopewell " amidships , killing five and starting gasoline fires . Alert firefighters brought the flames under control and the ship returned to San Diego for lengthy repairs . Returning to active operations again 24 March 1956 , when she sailed for the Far East , " Hopewell " resumed her regular pattern of cruises to Japan , Formosa , and Okinawa interspersed with training and readiness exercises off the West Coast of the United States . She operated with Korean and Nationalist Chinese ships on maneuvers in 1958 and 1959 and continued to act as an integral part of America fleet in the Pacific . On 12 November 1959 " Hopewell " returned to San Diego for extensive refitting and training . Vietnam . " Hopewell " was repeatedly deployed from the West Coast to Vietnam from 1960 into 1967 in defense of the republic . In February 1963 she rescued a crewman from a downed A - 3B of " Ticonderoga " ( CVA - 14 ) in the South China Sea . During a 3 - month cruise , which ended in August , " Hopewell " fired 2 , 276 rounds , destroyed 112 structures , and silenced a Viet Cong mortar attack upon ground forces . For the remainder of 1966 , she acted as school ship in gunnery and ASW off the West Coast . Fate . She was decommissioned 2 January 1970 and sunk as target on February 1972 . The wreck of the " Hopewell " was located and dove on 12 February 2011 by the UB88 Project ( Kendall Raine , John Walker & Scott Brooks - support diver ) UB88 USS - Hopewell Dive " Hopewell " received nine battle star s for World War II service and four for Korean service .