USS Kendall C . Campbell ( DE - 443 ) USS " Kendall C . Campbell " ( DE - 443 ) was a acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II . The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy , in addition to other tasks as assigned , such as patrol or radar picket . Post - war she proudly returned home with four battle star s to her credit . " Kendall C . Campbell " was named in honor of Kendall Carl Campbell who was twice awarded the Navy Cross , once during the New Guinea campaign and again during the Battle of the Coral Sea . " Kendall C . Campbell " was launched 19 March 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co . , Newark , New Jersey ; sponsored by Mrs . Carl B . Campbell ; and commissioned 31 July 1944 , Lt . Comdr . R . W . Johnson in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Kendall C . Campbell " departed New York 20 August 1944 for shakedown exercises off Bermuda . Ten days later she departed Norfolk , Virginia , transited the Panama Canal , and arrived Pearl Harbor 30 October . The destroyer escort was assigned to hunter - killer operations out of Hawaii with and performed this duty until she sailed for Ulithi 24 November . She immediately commenced ASW patrols designed to keep the supply lanes to the Marianas and Western Carolines open . Supporting Philippine operations . Anxiously awaiting her first major encounter , " Campbell " put to sea 1 January 1945 , and sortied with the Luzon Attack Force for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf . She returned to Ulithi 5 February for a short overhaul period , departing 2 weeks later for carrier escort duty during the occupation of Iwo Jima . When the volcano island was secure , " Kendall C . Campbell " put into Ulithi to prepare for the Okinawa invasion . Supporting Okinawa operations . The destroyer escort sailed 21 March accompanying escort carriers as they unleashed air raids in the pre - invasion strikes against Japanese positions on Okinawa . After the American assault forces hit the beach 1 April , " Kendall C . Campbell " stood by until the island was free of enemy resistance and offered all possible support to the successful campaign . End - of - war operations . As the war moved closer to the enemy homeland , on 26 June " Campbell " joined the Logistics Support Group , which operated northeast of Honshū , during the carrier strikes on Japan ' s home islands . In early August she searched for Japanese submarines southeast of Okinawa Gunto and was on this mission when the fighting ended . During the first week of September she furnished ASW patrols for the Tokyo Occupation Force en route to Japan . After escorting a group of 54 LST ' s from Tokyo to Manila , she returned to Yokosuka 16 October . Post - war decommissioning . " Kendall C . Campbell " departed Japan 4 November , arriving San Pedro , California , 22 November . The destroyer escort decommissioned at San Diego , California , 31 May 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet . She was berthed at Stockton , California . On 15 January 1972 she was struck from the Navy List , and , on 15 January 1973 , she was sold for scrapping . Military awards . " Kendall C . Campbell " received four battle stars for World War II service