USS Hulbert ( DD - 342 ) The third USS " Hulbert " ( DD - 342 / AVD - 6 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I . She was named for Henry Hulbert . History . " Hulbert " was launched by Norfolk Navy Yard , Portsmouth , Virginia , 28 June 1918 ; sponsored by Mrs . V . C . Hulbert , widow of Lieutenant Hulbert ; and commissioned 27 October 1920 , Lieutenant S . A . Maher in command . Following shakedown training out of Norfolk , Virginia , " Hulbert " took part in destroyer maneuvers in the Atlantic until June 1921 , when she assisted in ordnance tests on obsolete American and captured German ships . For the next year , the ship operated out of Newport with other destroyers . " Hulbert " sailed 20 June 1922 for duty on the Asiatic Station , steaming via the Mediterranean and Ceylon to Chefoo , China , 26 August . The ship patrolled Chinese and Philippine waters in the year that followed , protecting American interests during the Chinese Civil War . She also took part in periodic fleet exercises designed to keep her crew and equipment at maximum readiness . " Hulbert " took part in the evacuation of American civilians and missionaries in March 1927 and September 1928 . Completing this lengthy tour of duty in the Far East , she sailed 22 July 1929 from Yokohama , arriving San Diego 17 August . During the remainder of the year , " Hulbert " acted as plane guard for carriers and off California , thus helping to develop carrier - group tactics . She took part in important fleet exercises on both coasts , during the period from 1930 to 1934 and arrived Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 14 August 1934 . She decommissioned there 17 October 1934 and was placed in reserve . " Hulbert " was converted to a seaplane tender , recommissioning at New York Navy Yard as AVD - 6 on 2 August 1940 . She arrived in San Diego 24 August via Guantanamo Bay and the Panama Canal Zone , and began servicing Patrol Wing 1 on operations off the West Coast , helping to perfect America ' s seaplane reconnaissance capability . " Hulbert " sailed 8 May 1941 for Pearl Harbor , where she became headquarters ship for the seaplane wing and continued servicing and repairing her planes . World War II . On the morning of 7 December 1941 , during the attack on Pearl Harbor , " Hulbert " was moored at the Submarine Base , Pearl Harbor . General Quarters sounded just before 08 : 00 , and the ship ' s antiaircraft batteries immediately opened fire at attacking planes . This vessel went to general quarters when the Japanese attack was first sighted by the watch aboard , and is believed to have been the first ship in the fleet to open fire . As the Japanese directed their attention to Ford Island and the battleship s , she shot down one torpedo plane at 0758 , shared in bringing down a dive bomber at about 0820 and damaged several other aircraft . After the attack the ship assisted in the rescue effort . After loading ammunition , she moved to Hilo 9 December to set up an advance base for the all - important patrol bombers . " Hulbert " was also called upon to aid aircraft at sea , as on Christmas Day she repaired a seaplane at sea and then towed it for nearly 3 days when heavy seas prevented a safe takeoff . The ship also made supply runs to Palmyra before moving north to Kodiak 6 June 1942 . The Japanese had occupied Kiska and Attu as part of the abortive Midway Offensive , and " Hulbert " was assigned to tend the seaplanes of VP - 43 during reconnaissance flights and bombing raids on those islands . The ship also steamed to Seguam Island 30 August 1942 , landing a party of marines to search for a Japanese radio station . Next day , she arrived in Atka to aid torpedoed tender " USS Casco " , alternating between salvage efforts and seaplane tending during September . " Hulbert " sailed 4 October for supplies and repairs at San Francisco , California . She was again underway from Seattle , Washington 8 December 1942 for Kodiak where the ship serviced patrol bombers during the first months of 1943 . In May " Hulbert " moved to Amchitka , acting as communications ship during the recapture of Attu that spring . She moved again to Attu in June , to provide fuel and communications services for seaplanes and torpedo boats but was blown ashore in Massacre Bay during a severe storm 30 June 1943 . " Hulbert ' s " hull was seriously damaged and , after temporary repairs at Dutch Harbor , she arrived in Seattle 30 August for a major overhaul . The ship was reclassified DD - 342 on 1 December 1943 , and sailed 15 January 1944 to San Diego to take up new duties as an escort ship . For the remainder of the war " Hulbert " acted as plane guard and screen ship for dozens of new escort carriers as they made ready to join America ' s striking fleet in the Far East . The ship also served as a maneuvering torpedo target during pilot training and rescued a dozen pilots during this period . After the war ' s end , " Hulbert " sailed 30 September , escorting carrier " USS Ranger " to the Panama Canal Zone and arrived Philadelphia 17 October 1945 . Fate . She decommissioned 2 November 1945 and was sold for scrap in October 1946 to Ship Shape , Inc . , Philadelphia . " Hulbert " received two battle stars for World War II service . As of 2009 , no other ship has been named USS " Hulbert " .