USS John D . Edwards ( DD - 216 ) USS " John D . Edwards " ( DD - 216 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Lieutenant John D . Edwards . " John D . Edwards " was laid down 21 May and launched 18 October 1919 by William Cramp & Sons ; sponsored by Mrs . May Marshall Edwards , widow of Lieutenant Edwards ; and commissioned 6 April 1920 , Commander Alexander Sharp in command . Service history . After shakedown , " John D . Edwards " departed Philadelphia 14 May 1920 to patrol in Turkish waters . With the Near East in turmoil , the destroyer evacuated refugees and furnished communication facilities for that area . She remained in Turkish waters until she sailed 2 May 1921 for duty with the Asiatic Squadron . Upon arrival at Cavite , Philippines , 29 June , " Edwards " immediately began patrols in the Far East . She was to remain there for 4 years operating out of the Philippines in the winter and China during the summer . She aided victims of the Japanese earthquake in 1923 and carried both food and rescue workers to Yokohama . As the Chinese Civil War flared in 1924 , the destroyer was on station to protect the rights of the foreigners in China . She departed the Far East 18 May 1925 , arriving New York 13 July . For the next 3 years , she operated out of Norfolk , Virginia making periodic training cruises along the coast and in the Caribbean . Following a Mediterranean cruise in late 1927 , " Edwards " transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Pedro , California , for service in the Pacific . She operated along the West Coast until 1 August 1929 when she sailed for the Far East , arriving Yokohama 26 August . " Edwards " undertook a lengthy duty as part of the Asiatic Fleet . Operating out of the Philippines along the Chinese Coast and off Japan , she guarded American interests during the Sino - Japanese War in the late 1930s , underwent training and battle practice , and operated with the Yangtze River Patrol , South China Sea Patrol , and the Neutrality patrol s . World War II . During the first two years of the 1940s , " John D . Edwards " increased operations with submarine s in various training exercises . Shortly after the commencement of hostilities with Japan 7 December 1941 , she departed Balik - papan , Borneo , to search for survivors of . For the next two months she engaged in patrol , escort , and antisubmarine warfare operations in an attempt to halt the southward advance of powerful Japanese forces from the Philippines into the Netherlands East Indies . Assigned to Destroyer Squadron 29 , she departed Bunda Roads , Madura Island , 4 February 1942 . As part of a cruiser - destroyer striking force , she sailed for Makassar Strait to intercept a reinforced Japanese convoy heading for the Java Sea . That morning , Japanese bombers attacked the ships as the striking force steamed north of Bali . Despite antiaircraft fire , the planes carried out several attacks which heavily damaged and . Following the attack , " Edwards " escorted the damaged cruisers via Lombok Strait to Tjilatjap on the southern coast of Java . The Japanese continued their push southward during the month of February . In mid - February , " Edwards " took part in the unsuccessful attempt to intercept a Japanese invasion convoy off Banka Strait in Palembang , Sumatra . Following this action , she steamed to the eastern coast of Bali to attack a Japanese destroyer - transport force in Badoeng Strait . During the early hours of 20 February , " Edwards " , accompanied by three other destroyers , engaged Japanese destroyers in a torpedo and gunfire battle that heavily damaged . The American destroyers returned to Surabaya , Java , later that day . As part of the American - British - Dutch - Australian Command under Rear Admiral Karel Doorman , RN , " Edwards " engaged the Japanese Java Invasion Force 27 February in the Battle of the Java Sea ; this engagement lasted for 7 hours . The Allies suffered a heavy defeat , losing a total of 5 ships in this battle ( a further 5 were sunk in associated actions ) ; the Japanese were able to invade and conquer Java . After expending all torpedoes during the battle , " Edwards " returned to Surabaya to refuel . Accompanied by three other four - pipers , she departed for Australia after dark 28 February . While transiting Bali Strait during midwatch 1 March , the destroyers fought a brief duel with patrolling Japanese ships . Lacking torpedoes and low on ammunition , the American ships retreated , opened range and steamed southward for Fremantle where they arrived early in March . For the next 2 months , " Edwards " escorted convoys out of Australia before arriving Pearl Harbor 1 June . She escorted convoys from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco , California until 15 June 1943 when she arrived at Brooklyn , New York to commence escort duty in the Atlantic . The destroyer cruised along the coast and to North Africa escorting supply ships during the next 9 months . For the rest of the war , " Edwards " escorted convoys in the Atlantic and trained submarines off the Canal Zone . Following the end of the conflict in Europe the destroyer arrived at Philadelphia 15 June 1945 and decommissioned there 28 July 1945 . " Edwards " was sold to Boston Metal Company , Baltimore , Maryland , January 1946 . Awards . " John D . Edwards " received three battle stars for World War II service . As of 2011 , no other ship have been named " John D . Edwards " .