USS Hanna ( DE - 449 ) USS Hanna ( DE - 449 ) was a " John C . Butler " - class destroyer escort 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 . She proudly returned home with five battle stars to her credit after she was reactivated for Korean War duty . " Hanna " ( DE - 449 ) was named in honor of William T . Hanna who was killed in action 9 October 1942 while attached to the 1st Marine Division Reinforced on Guadalcanal . He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously . She was launched 4 July 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co . , Newark , New Jersey ; sponsored by Mrs . William P . Hanna , mother ; and commissioned 27 January 1945 , Lt . Comdr . Means Johnston , Jr . , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After shakedown out of Bermuda and Guantánamo Bay , " Hanna " returned to New York 24 March 1945 . Departing New York 9 April she escorted to Cristobal , Panama Canal Zone , then sailed via San Diego , California , arriving Pearl Harbor 4 May . After more intensive training and various escort missions in Hawaiian waters " Hanna " sailed 9 June for Eniwetok where she took up duty with Marshall - Gilberts Surface Patrol and Escort Group . This duty continued until 28 September after the Japanese surrender . End - of - war activity . Then she and the U . S . prize Tachibana Maru formed the task unit to evacuate Japanese soldiers and sailors from Wake Island . Embarking 700 passengers they reached Tokyo 12 October . The U . S . Navy prize crew was withdrawn ; the United States ensign hauled down ; and Tachibana Maru turned over to the Japanese . Departing Tokyo 24 October 1945 " Hanna " returned to Eniwetok and then sailed to Guam , where she took up duty as air - sea rescue and weather reporting ship . She continued this important task until her return to the States , where she decommissioned at San Diego , California , 31 May 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Recommissioned during Korean War . " Hanna " recommissioned at San Diego 27 December 1950 , Lt . Comdr . C . W . Ward in command to augment Navy strength in the Korean War . Once more an active unit of the U . S . Pacific Fleet , Hanna served with Escort Squadron 9 until 16 April 1951 when she sailed for the Western Pacific . Here she served as patrol ship in the Formosa Straits . In June 1951 " Hanna " joined Task Force 95 for blockading and escort duties off the west coast of Korea . In August , while on shore bombardment mission in Wonsan Harbor " Hanna " was instrumental in silencing enemy shore batteries after a duel lasting more than 2 hours . During the ensuing months " Hanna " served gallantly , operating with the Blockading and Escort Forces of Task Force 95 . She was part of the antisubmarine and antiaircraft screen for the aircraft carriers launching repeated strikes against the Communists . In early November 1951 " Hanna " was detached for the United States , reaching San Diego 26 November for overhaul . Three months later " Hanna " returned to the western Pacific and resumed her shore bombardment missions in addition to escorting damaged vessels and investigation of fishing craft . On 24 November 1952 Hanna came under heavy return fire from north Korean shore batterys and was hit amidships in the aft fireroom mortally wounding Robert Potts MM3 . Potts was the last shipboard casualty killed by enemy action during the Korean war . She returned to San Diego 9 June 1953 . After operations off the California coast " Hanna " departed 19 November for an island - hopping cruise of the Central Pacific , returning to San Diego 6 June 1954 . Continued Pacific Ocean deployments . Between 9 November 1954 and 28 July 1957 " Hanna " made three more deployments to the western Pacific . On her last deployment " Hanna " took up patrolling the Central Carolines , Northern Marianas , the Bonins , and the Volcano Islands . In addition she participated in a rescue mission involving the Chinese Nationalist merchantman SS Ping Tung that had run aground on Yokoate Shima , an island of the Ryukyu chain . Training ship duties . " Hanna ' s " home port was changed to Long Beach , California , 26 November 1957 and she was designated a Naval Reserve Training Ship . She commenced the first of her reserve training cruises 6 February 1958 to Manzanillo , Mexico , and from that date until 27 August 1959 made 18 such cruises in addition to numerous weekend cruises . Final decommissioning . " Hanna " decommissioned at Mare Island 11 December 1959 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Military awards . " Hanna " received five battle stars for Korean service .