USS Madison ( DD - 425 ) USS " Madison " ( DD - 425 ) was a " Benson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She the third Navy ship of that name , and the first named for Commander James J . Madison ( 1888 – 1922 ) , who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I . " Madison " was laid down on 19 September 1938 by the Boston Navy Yard ; launched on 20 October 1939 ; sponsored by Mrs . Ethel Madison Meyn , widow of Commander Madison ; and commissioned on 6 August 1940 , Lieutenant Commander T . E . Boyce in command . Pre World War II Service . Prior to the entry of the United States into World War II , the destroyer saw over a year ’ s service opposing the spread of Axis power . In addition to Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean and North Atlantic convoy duty , she was escort on two diplomatic voyages in January 1941 . She escorted as the cruiser carried Admiral William D . Leahy to Portugal en route to France to become Ambassador to the Vichy France Government , where he was a reminder of both the neutrality and the power of the United States . In August , she escorted , carrying President Franklin D . Roosevelt to Argentia Bay , she rendezvoused with , carrying British Prime Minister Winston Churchill . Mediterranean and Arctic Convoys . Following the formulation of the Atlantic Charter , " Madison " returned to convoy and patrol duty . She operated in the North Atlantic and along the east coast until the spring of 1942 . On 4 April " Madison " put into Scapa Flow and became a unit of the British Home Fleet . Steaming at first between Greenock , Scotland and the Mediterranean , " Madison " was with when that aircraft carrier delivered Supermarine Spitfire s to the besieged island of Malta . These planes enabled the residents to hold on to their position , preventing Axis air supremacy in the western Mediterranean , and providing a future logistics base for the Allies . Returning from this mission , " Madison " patrolled the North Sea and the convoy routes to Murmansk . Operation Torch . Resuming operations as part of the Atlantic Fleet , " Madison " took up her convoy duty anew . She made quick trips to Panama , the gulf ports and various ports in the United Kingdom . On 2 November , she departed New York City for Casablanca with convoy UGF 2 of troops and supplies to support the initial invasion of north Africa . Arriving in mid - November , she remained on local patrol and escort duty off Casablanca until the end of the year . Convoy duty , Operation Shingle and Operation Anvil - Dragoon . Standing out of New York 30 January 1943 , the destroyer made one convoy run to Derry , Northern Ireland , before commencing , in February , " oil runs " from Curaçao to the United Kingdom . For the remainder of the year , she continued to escort convoys of tankers and other types of merchant ships between the Netherlands West Indies , New York , north Africa , and various United Kingdom and Mediterranean ports . " Madison " s next assignment was to the Mediterranean . Arriving at Oran , Algeria , 30 January 1944 , she practiced shore bombardment before departing for Italy on 11 February . Operating off Anzio , she continued antisubmarine patrols and provided antiaircraft protection and support gunfire until mid - April , when she commenced convoy and patrol duty throughout the Mediterranean . In August , " Madison " once again joined the support force for an invasion , this time in the south of France . During Operation Dragoon , " Madison " , on antisubmarine patrol and fire support duty on 10 September , made four certain kills of human torpedo es and one probable . Pacific Service . Returning home in January 1945 , " Madison " escorted one more convoy to Mediterranean ports and returned before departing the east coast 21 April for the Pacific Ocean , arriving Guam on 1 July . Following a convoy run to Okinawa and back , " Madison " was assigned to a picket station off Ulithi . On 2 August , she raced to the site of the loss of to search for survivors . Later , she steamed to Tokyo Bay to witness the formal surrender of the Japanese forces . End of World War II and fate . Following the war ’ s end , " Madison " remained with the occupation forces until 5 November when she sailed for Charleston , South Carolina . Having steamed more than 300 , 000 miles ( 550 , 000 km ) during the course of the war , " Madison " arrived at Charleston 7 December 1945 . She was placed out of commission in reserve 13 March 1946 at Charleston and later moved to Orange , Texas . She was struck from the Navy List 1 June 1968 . She was sunk as target off southeastern Florida on 14 October 1969 . Awards . " Madison " received five battle star s for World War II service .