USS Childs ( DD - 241 ) USS " Childs " ( DD - 241 / AVP - 14 / AVD - 1 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Earle W . F . Childs . History . " Childs " ( DD - 241 ) was launched 15 September 1920 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs . E . W . F . Childs ; and commissioned 22 October 1920 , Commander I . H . Mayfield in command . Arriving at Gibraltar 14 February 1921 , " Childs " joined U . S . Naval Forces , Europe , to cruise in the Mediterranean , Adriatic , North , and Baltic Seas until 25 November , when she arrived at Constantinople . Here she joined the relief mission sent to Russia early in 1922 , remaining in the Black Sea on diplomatic duties until 1 April . On 8 July , she departed from Cherbourg for Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , returning to the United States 29 July . " Childs " conducted training operations , and joined other ships in fleet exercises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean until 14 February 1925 , when with the Scouting Fleet she stood out of Guantanamo Bay for large scale fleet exercises in the Hawaiian Islands and then returned to the east coast . In 1932 , 1933 , and 1934 , the annual concentration of the Fleet for battle practice was again held on the West Coast , and " Childs " took part . With her home port changed to San Diego , California 9 November " Childs " served as flagship of Destroyer Division 8 Rotating Reserve , Scouting Force , 5 January - 15 June when she was in full commission again . She spent the summer of 1935 cruising off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska . The next year " Childs " returned to the east coast for overhaul , then returned to duty at San Diego , cruising several times to the Hawaiian Islands before 14 May 1938 , when she cleared for Philadelphia and conversion to a seaplane tender . Reclassified AVP - 14 , she saw her first service in her new role during the annual fleet problem of 1939 , operating between the Florida coast and San Juan , Puerto Rico , and after final preparations at Philadelphia , sailed for her new base at Pearl Harbor , arriving 29 June . She tended seaplanes there and on the plane guard stations off Midway , Wake Island , and Guam until 1 October 1940 , when she was reclassified AVD - 1 , and ordered to the Asiatic Station . The next day she left Hawaii for Cavite , Philippines , arriving 1 November to begin her service to air patrol squadrons . World War II . When war with Japan broke out , " Childs " lay in Cavite Navy Yard for repair , and during the devastation of the yard by Japanese aircraft on 10 December 1941 , escaped damage by evasive maneuvering in the confined harbor area . She tended her flying boats of Patrol Wing 10 from Manila for 4 more days , then began a lengthy base - to - base withdrawal . On leaving Kendari harbour on 24 January 1942 she evaded the invading Japanese fleet in a rain squall and survived an air attack . At Surabaya the tenders " Childs " , " Heron " , and " Preston " rotated as needed to service VP101 which was patrolling Makassar Strait . Finally she reached Exmouth Gulf , Australia , 28 February 1942 . From Fremantle and other Western Australia ports , " Childs " continued her tender duties until 12 August 1944 . During this time , her planes scouted and bombed Japanese positions and shipping , mined the waters off Balikpapan , Borneo , and performed air - sea rescue missions . " Childs " returned to the west coast 19 September 1944 , and after overhaul , conducted training operations off the west coast until the close of the war . She was decommissioned 10 December 1945 , and sold 3 January 1946 . " Childs " received one battle star for World War II service .