USS Claxton ( DD - 571 ) USS " Claxton " ( DD - 571 ) , a " Fletcher " - class destroyer , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Thomas Claxton , born in Baltimore , Maryland . " Claxton " was launched 1 April 1942 by Consolidated Steel Corporation , Orange , Texas ; sponsored by Mrs . A . D . Bernhard ; and commissioned 8 December 1942 , Commander Herald F . Stout in command . History . In March 1943 " Claxton " patrolled briefly in Casco Bay , Maine , awaiting the possible sortie of German battleship " Tirpitz " from Norwegian waters . After one convoy escort assignment to Casablanca , she sailed from Charleston , South Carolina , 17 May to join the Pacific Fleet . After training at Nouméa and Espiritu Santo from 12 June 1943 , " Claxton " covered the landings at Rendova between 27 June and 25 July , then joined Destroyer Squadron 23 for a period of operations which were recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation . In the struggle for the Solomons , " Claxton " and her squadron patrolled to intercept enemy shipping , protected the passage of American troops and shipping , bombarded enemy bases , covered landings , and engaged Japan ese surface and air forces . In the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay on the night of 1 / 2 November 1943 , " Claxton " , with four cruisers and seven other destroyers , fired her torpedoes in an attack which turned back a Japanese force of four cruisers and six destroyers sailing to attack transports off Bougainville , sinking two and damaging four of the enemy ships . " Claxton " towed " Foote " ( DD - 511 ) , one of five American ships injured that night , into Purvis Bay , arriving 4 November . On 25 November 1943 , in the battle of Cape St . George , New Ireland , " Claxton " and four other destroyers intercepted a force of five Japanese destroyers , as the enemy ships sailed to evacuate aviation troops to Rabaul . Once more fighting in darkness , " Claxton " and the others achieved complete surprise in their torpedo attack , and followed with a running gun battle . In this classic destroyer action , three Japanese ships were sunk and a fourth damaged , with no injury to the American ships . On 4 February 1944 , while bombarding Sarime Plantation on Bougainville , " Claxton " was seriously damaged by an explosion aft , probably of two medium caliber shells . Despite her damage and 15 wounded , " Claxton " completed her mission with her three forward guns , then sailed for temporary aid at Purvis Bay and permanent repairs on the west coast . She returned to action in August 1944 , and assigned to screen escort carriers , took part in the invasion of the Palaus in September . Sailing north for the invasion of the Philippines , the destroyer covered the operations of underwater demolition teams preparing the beaches , then gave screening and fire support during the landings on 20 October . In the phase of the Battle for Leyte Gulf known as the Battle of Surigao Strait on 24 and 25 October , " Claxton " screened the battle line in the surface action which virtually destroyed the Japanese southern force . Continuing her patrol in Leyte Gulf to support the forces ashore , on 1 November 1944 , " Claxton " suffered 5 dead , 23 wounded , and serious damage when a Japanese suicide plane crashed and exploded in the water alongside to starboard . The men used their mattresses to fill the 9 by 5 - foot hole . With all her after living spaces flooded , " Claxton " fought her own damage as she rescued 187 survivors of " Abner Read " ( DD - 526 ) , also a kamikaze ' s victim . Repairs at Tacloban and Manus prepared " Claxton " for her return to action on fire support , patrol , and escort duty in the Lingayen Gulf landings from 9 January to 18 January 1945 . Continuing action in the Philippines , she conducted bombardments and covered landings , at various points on Luzon and Mindanao and in the Visaya s through early May . On 16 May she arrived off Okinawa for duty as radar picket and fighter - director until the close of the war . On 6 June her guns drove off a flight of 12 would - be suiciders . Fate . Sailing from Okinawa 10 September 1945 , " Claxton " reached Washington , D . C . , 17 October for the ceremonial presentation of the Presidential Unit Citation 2 days later . After overhaul in New York , she was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Charleston , S . C . , 18 April 1946 . On 15 December 1959 , she was loaned under the Mutual Assistance Program to the Federal Republic of Germany , with whom she served as " Zerstörer 4 ( D 178 ) " . In February 1981 , she was transferred to the Greek Navy where she was ultimately cannibalized for spare parts . Honors . In addition to her squadron ' s Presidential Unit Citation , " Claxton " received eight battle star s for World War II service .