USS Parks ( DE - 165 ) USS " Parks " ( DE - 165 ) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II . She served in the Pacific Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys . At war ' s end , she returned Stateside proudly with four battle stars . She was laid down on 11 November 1942 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co . , Newark , New Jersey ; launched on 18 April 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Patricia Yoder ; and commissioned on 23 June 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Milford McQuilkin , USNR , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . Following commissioning , the new destroyer escort proceeded to Bermuda for shakedown , returned to New York before proceeding to Noumea , New Caledonia via the Panama Canal , Galapagos Islands , and Bora Bora . With the exception of a short trip to Rendova , New Georgia , in January 1944 , a diversionary trip to Funafuti , Ellice Islands , and another to Manus Island , Admiralty Islands in April 1944 escorting tankers , this ship ' s duties were largely patrolling and escorting between Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides and the Guadalcanal - Florida Island area . On two different occasions , as an extension of escort duties between those two places , the ship went to Efate , New Hebrides . In June 1944 " Parks " proceeded to Eniwetok Atoll , Marshall Islands . From there she participated in the fueling operations of the 5th Fleet supporting the invasion of Saipan and later acted as an escort during the conquest of Guam . " Parks " next steamed via Eniwetok to Manus Island where she was assigned to a fueling group and acted as escort for tankers and carriers during the Palau , Ulithi campaigns . Shortly thereafter , " Parks " operated out of Ulithi and Manus escorting tankers and carriers to the Philippines which the Allies were liberating . Overhaul in California . At Ulithi Atoll late in November , " Parks " received orders to proceed to Pearl Harbor . Upon arrival in Pearl Harbor , via Manus Island , " Parks " was ordered on to the West Coast and arrived at Newport Beach , California , on 1 March 1945 for overhaul . On 16 April 1945 " Parks " departed San Diego , California , and proceeded to Eniwetok , taking up duties which consisted of ocean escort between Eniwetok and Ulithi , air - sea rescue , and hunter - killer operations in the surrounding area . Japanese surrender at Mili Atoll . In mid - August , " Parks " proceeded to Majuro and thence steamed to Mili Atoll for the surrender of the Japanese garrison and the flag raising ceremony there on 28 August 1945 . Immediately after , the Commanding Officer assumed duties of Representative Atoll Commander Majuro at Mili , which consisted of controlling the Japanese garrison of approximately 2400 men , supervising and aiding in the demilitarization of the atoll , disposal of all ammunition and explosives and sweeping of the mine fields . On 13 September 1945 " Parks " proceeded to Majuro en route to Kwajalein . From Kwajalein " Parks " departed for Pearl Harbor , San Diego , and the Panama Canal . Post - War decommissioning . Following repairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard , " Parks " proceeded to Green Cove Springs , Florida , and reported to the Commander , 16th Fleet ( Inactive ) on 29 November 1945 . She decommissioned in March 1946 ; but , with the Korean War , she was taken off the disposal list and placed in reserve at Green Cove Springs in May 1951 . In 1970 she was berthed at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . She was sold on 15 October 1973 , and scrapped . Awards . " Parks " received four battle stars for World War II service . External links .