USS Callaghan ( DD - 792 ) USS " Callaghan " ( DD - 792 ) , a " Fletcher " - class destroyer , was a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral Daniel J . Callaghan ( 1890 – 1942 ) , who was killed in action in the bitter Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during the action in which he gave his life . " Callaghan " was launched 1 August 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co . , San Pedro , Calif . ; sponsored by Mrs . D . J . Callaghan ; commissioned 27 November 1943 , Commander F . J . Johnson in command ; and reported to the Pacific Fleet . Service History . " Callaghan " sailed from the West Coast 5 February 1944 to plunge into action with fast - striking 5th Fleet in smashing air raids on the Palaus , Yap , Ulithi , and Woleai from 30 March to 1 April . Based on Manus in April , " Callaghan " supported the Hollandia operation through important services as picket ship during air strikes , and screening the valuable tankers . From June to August 1944 , " Callaghan " provided screen for escort carrier s softening up , and later supporting the invasions of Saipan , Tinian , and Guam . At Saipan , " Callaghan " s guns joined in driving off a heavy Japan ese air attack on 17 June , helping splash three enemy planes . was struck by a bomb in this attack , and " Callaghan " shielded the crippled escort carrier safely back to Eniwetok . Late in August " Callaghan " began operations as escort for air strikes on the Palaus , Mindanao , Luzon , and the Central Philippines in support of the invasion of the Palaus , a stepping stone to the Philippines . With the long - awaited return to the Philippines scheduled for mid - October 1944 , " Callaghan " steamed in the screen of the carrier force conducting essential preliminary neutralization of Japanese airfields in Formosa and Okinawa . During a heavy enemy air attack on 14 October , " Callaghan " joined in downing several planes . Sailing on to stand guard off the invasion area on Leyte , " Callaghan " s force contributed air power in the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf , which insured the Allied advance in the Philippines against the desperate Japanese efforts to break up the landings . After pursuing Japanese cripples fleeing north , " Callaghan " returned to support the Philippine operations , in company with the 3rd Fleet , for air strikes on Luzon . En route on 3 November , was torpedo ed , and " Callaghan " stood by to protect the stricken light cruiser until relief forces arrived , when " Callaghan " was able to rejoin her group for the strikes . Through December , she participated in more air strikes on the Central Philippines , and in January 1945 , the destroyer sailed with the 3rd Fleet for air raids on Formosa , Luzon , Indo - China , Hong Kong , and the Nansei Shoto . Through the following months , " Callaghan " operated at the same active pace , screening carrier strikes pounding Iwo Jima , Okinawa , and the Tokyo area . " Callaghan " assisted in sinking a Japanese picket boat on 18 February , and on 3 March joined the bombardment of Parece Vela . In late March she joined a battleship force at Ulithi , and from this base sailed for the bombardment preceding the invasion of Okinawa , where she threw harassing fire ashore during the night of 26 March . This initiated prolonged fire support and screening duty in the dangerous waters off Okinawa during which , in addition to invaluable aid to the troops , " Callaghan " joined in the sinking of a Japanese midget submarine and in the kill of three dive bomber s . Fate . On 9 July 1945 , " Callaghan " took station on the embattled radar picket line , where on 28 July she drove off a wooden - and - fabric biplane intent on suicide with well - directed fire , but the plane , skimming low and undetected , returned to strike " Callaghan " on the starboard side . It exploded and one of the plane ' s bombs penetrated the after engine room . The aircraft survived the first approach because the proximity fuses were ineffective against its wooden fuselage . The destroyer flooded , and the fires which ignited antiaircraft ammunition prevented nearby ships from rendering aid . " Callaghan " sank at 02 : 35 , 28 July 1945 , with the loss of 47 members of her crew . She was the last Allied ship sunk by a " kamikaze " during the war . Awards . " Callaghan " received eight battle star s for World War II service .