USS Gillis ( DD - 260 ) USS " Gillis " ( DD - 260 / AVD - 12 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy . She was named for Commodore John P . Gillis and Rear Admiral James Henry Gillis . History . " Gillis " was launched 29 May 1919 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Miss Helen Irvine Murray , granddaughter of Admiral Gillis ; and Mrs . Josephine T . Smith , niece of Commodore Gillis ; commissioned 3 September 1919 , Lieutenant Commander Webb Trammell in command . " Gillis " sailed from Newport , Rhode Island , 17 December 1919 and moored at San Diego , California 20 January 1920 . She joined the Pacific Fleet Destroyer Force in tactics and maneuvers along the West Coast until decommissioned at San Diego 26 May 1922 . Recommissioned in ordinary 28 June 1940 , she was reclassified 2 August as seaplane tender destroyer AVD - 12 . Following conversion she was placed in full commission at San Francisco , California , 25 March 1941 . " Gillis " was assigned as tender to Patrol Wing 4 , Aircraft Scouting Force , U . S . Pacific Fleet . In the following months she performed plane guard patrol between San Diego and Seattle , Washington with time out for aircraft tending duties at Sitka , Alaska ( 14 – 17 June ) ; Dutch Harbor and Kodiak ( 15 – 31 July ) . After overhaul in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard she returned to Kodiak 16 October 1941 to resume tending of amphibious patrol planes in Alaskan waters . She was serving at Kodiak when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and returned to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 9 February 1942 for overhaul . " Gillis " resumed tender duties at Kodiak 26 May 1942 . She was stationed at Atka ( 11 – 13 June ) tending amphibious patrol aircraft bombing the Japanese on Kiska Island . On air - sea rescue patrol 6 June 1942 , she made three depth charge runs on an underwater sound contact . A Japanese submarine violently broached the surface revealing its conning tower and propeller , then disappeared . " Gillis " was unable to regain contact . She was credited with damaging this underseas raider in the combat area off Umak Island . She was attacked by three Japanese patrol bombers while at Adak 20 July . One bomb , a dud , splashed within 10 feet alongside . Other bombs rained about her , ahead and astern . She was drenched by water thrown up by the explosions but escaped damage or casualties . " Gillis " continued her varied duties as aircraft tender and air - sea rescue patrol ship throughout the Aleutian Campaign . Brief intervals of repair were accomplished in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard . She terminated this service 19 April 1944 when she departed Dutch Harbor for overhaul in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard . She arrived at San Diego 13 June and spent the following months as plane guard for aircraft carriers training along the California coast . She was then routed on to Pearl Harbor , arriving 8 December 1944 . She operated in Hawaiian waters as plane guard for escort carrier " Makassar Strait " ( CVE - 91 ) until 20 February 1945 . She then sailed with Rear Admiral Morton L . Deyo ' s Gunfire and Covering Force , en route via the Marshalls , Marianas and Ulithi for the invasion of Okinawa . " Gillis " arrived off Kerama Retto 25 March 1945 . She guarded minesweepers to the west , then stood by underwater demolition teams clearing approaches to the western beaches of Okinawa . After invasion forces stormed ashore 1 April , she tended observation and patrol planes at Kerama Retto and performed air - sea rescue patrol . On 28 April she departed Okinawa in the screen of " Makassar Strait " , bound via Guam to San Pedro Bay , Philippine Islands . She returned by the same route in the escort screen of " Wake Island " ( CVE - 65 ) . That carrier launched planes 29 June to land bases on Okinawa and " Gillis " helped escort her back to Guam 3 July 1945 . Fate . " Gillis " departed Guam for home 8 July 1945 . She arrived at San Pedro , California , 28 July and decommissioned there 15 October 1945 . Her name was struck from the Navy List 1 November 1945 . She was sold for scrapping 29 January 1946 . " Gillis " received two battle star s for service in World War II . , no other ship has been named " Gillis " .