USS Dortch ( DD - 670 ) USS " Dortch " ( DD - 670 ) was a " Fletcher " - class destroyer of the United States Navy , the only Navy ship named for Isaac Foote Dortch , who was awarded the Navy Cross . " Dortch " ( DD - 670 ) was laid down on 2 March 1943 and launched 20 June 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , Kearny , New Jersey ; sponsored by Miss M . C . Dortch , daughter of Captain Dortch ; and commissioned 7 August 1943 , Lieutenant Commander R . C . Young in command . History . During October and November 1943 Dortch sailed to Trinidad , British West Indies , where she served as plane guard and screen for USS " Langley " ( CVL - 27 ) during the carrier ' s shakedown cruise . Dortch sailed from Norfolk on 3 December in the screen of newly commissioned USS " Intrepid " ( CV - 11 ) and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 28 December . " Dortch " served in the screen of the Fast Carrier Task Force TF 58 during the capture and occupation of the Marshall Islands from 29 January 1944 . She took part in the initial raids on Truk of 16 February and 17 and on the Marianas on 23 February , then sailed with the task group providing air cover for landings on Emirau Island in March . Later that month she rejoined TF 58 for raids on Palau , Yap , Ulithi and Woleai from 30 March to 1 April ; support of the Hollandia operation in New Guinea on 21 April and 22 ; and a repeat raid on Truk from 29 April to 1 May . After screening escort carriers to Pearl Harbor , " Dortch " returned to TF 58 for the capture and occupation of Saipan , screening the carriers as they fought and won the decisive Battle of the Philippine Sea . During the invasion of Guam " Dortch " patrolled west of the island as life guard and fighter director ship , as well as screening the carriers that provided air support for the troops ashore . " Dortch " saw action in the 5th Fleet raids on the Bonins on 4 and 5 August 1944 , then returned to cover the landings on Peleliu , Palau Islands , on 15 September . She remained with the fast carriers while they pounded airfields and installations in the Nansei Shoto , Formosa , Luzon , and on the Chinese coast to neutralize Japan ese bases in preparation for the invasion of the Philippines . She continued to protect the carriers as they launched strikes against the Japanese fleet in the Battle for Leyte Gulf 24 – 25 October . On 10 February 1945 Dortch sortied in a scouting line ahead of TF 58 for the strike on the Tokyo Bay area of 16 February and 17 . On the following day " Dortch " , with USS " Clarence K . Bronson " ( DD - 668 ) , attacked and seriously damaged an enemy picket vessel ; " Dortch " received 14 casualties in the action . On the 19th she was off Iwo Jima for the assault landings , and continued to patrol off the island in the day and screen transports at night . She rejoined the carriers for raids on Tokyo on 25 February and strikes and Photo reconnaissance missions over Okinawa 1 March . Returning to duty at Iwo Jima , " Dortch " sailed 29 March for an overhaul on the west coast , arriving in San Francisco 21 April . Dortch got underway on 9 July 1945 , and bombarded Wake Island on 8 August while making her passage to Guam . On 27 August she entered Tokyo Bay , and served in the occupation of Japan and its possessions until sailing for the States 5 December 1945 . She was placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston , S . C . on 19 July 1946 . Recommissioned 4 May 1951 Dortch was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet , and from Newport , Rhode Island , operated on the east coast and in the Caribbean . In August 1952 she sailed to take part in NATO Operation Mainbrace off Norway and Denmark , returning to Newport 9 October . On 27 April 1953 she sailed for the Pacific , and operated with TF 77 off Korea until October . She continued west to complete a round - the - world cruise , returning to Newport in December . In 1954 - 55 and 1957 she served with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean , patrolling off the Gaza Strip , where conditions remained tense after the Suez Crisis , during the latter cruise . " Dortch " continued her east coast and Caribbean operations until again placed out of commission in reserve on 13 December 1957 . " Dortch " received eight battle star s for World War II service and one for Korean war service . Argentina . " Dortch " was placed out of commission in reserve on 13 December 1957 , transferred to Argentina as " Espora " ( D - 21 ) on 16 August 1961 , and finally struck from the Navy list on 1 September 1975 . The " Espora " was stricken from the Argentine Navy list and broken up for scrap in 1977 .