USS Hissem ( DE - 400 ) USS " Hissem " ( DE - 400 / DER - 400 ) was an Edsall class destroyer escort of the United States Navy . She was named for Joseph Hissem . " Hissem " was constructed in 1943 as DE - 400 . In 1955 , the vessel was equipped with modern radars , and the designation was changed to DER - 400 . The special purpose of DER ( Destroyer Escort Radar picket ) ships was the detection of aircraft . Their chief role was to extend the DEW line out into the N . Atlantic and the N . Pacific oceans . History . " Hissem " was launched by Brown Shipbuilding , Houston , Texas , 26 December 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth D . Hissem , sister of Ensign Hissem ; and commissioned 13 January 1944 , Lieutenant Commander W . W . Low in command . Following a shakedown cruise to Bermuda , " Hissem " steamed via Charleston , South Carolina to New York , where she arrived 20 March 1944 . Her first combat duty was as an escort ship with convoy UGS - 37 , carrying vitally needed troops and supplies to the Mediterranean . The convoy departed Norfolk , Virginia 23 March and entered the Mediterranean Sea without attack . Then near Algiers the night of 11 – 12 April the Luftwaffe attacked . About 35 bombers and torpedo planes struck in a coordinated attack , and were repulsed by accurate gunnery and evasive chemical smoke . " Hissem ' s " gun crews splashed one torpedo plane and damaged another , as the escorts prevented damage to the huge convoy of transports . The only ship struck was escort ship , torpedoed but able to make port . Subsequently , " Hissem " performed regular escort duty across the Atlantic interspersed with anti - submarine and anti - aircraft training on the East Coast of the United States . The ship transported over 500 paratroopers in March 1945 , taking them on board in the Azores , transferring them to SS " Althone Castle " , and escorting the ship through submarine waters to Liverpool . Braving both the Germans and the heavy weather of the North Atlantic . " Hissem " made a total of seven convoy voyages from June 1944 until she returned to New York 28 May 1945 . With the war in Europe over , the destroyer escort prepared to join the Pacific Fleet in dealing the death blows to the Japanese Empire . She sailed 20 June from New York and after operations in the Caribbean arrived Pearl Harbor 26 July 1945 . " Hissem " remained at Hawaii until after the surrender of Japan , and steamed 30 August for Eniwetok and Ulithi . The ship then continued to Japan , arriving Tokyo 7 October 1945 to assist occupation operations . Sailing to Guam 29 October , the ship transported occupation troops to nearby islands , acted as air - sea rescue ship , and steamed as a weather ship through the western Pacific . " Hissem " sailed for the United States 9 January 1946 . Arriving San Pedro 25 January , she got underway 2 days later for the Panama Canal and Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , where she arrived 11 February . After repairs the ship steamed to Green Cove Springs , Florida , 23 March and decommissioned 15 June 1946 . " Hissem " was brought out of reserve in 1955 and converted for use as a radar picket ship at Boston Navy Yard . Equipped with the latest electronic detection devices , she recommissioned at Boston 31 August 1956 . After shakedown the ship joined the Atlantic Barrier , cruising as a sea extension of the DEW line to strengthen the northern defenses of Canada and the United States . In the years that followed , first out of Boston and later Newport , " Hissem " alternated 1 month of lonely picket duty with a month of in - port or training time , often experiencing the characteristic heavy weather of the North Atlantic . In 1959 and 1962 she made visits to Northern European and Mediterranean ports . " Hissem " saw varied duty in 1963 . After two tours of picket duty she acted as command ship during the search for lost submarine 16 – 21 April . A month as school ship for sonar training at Key West , Florida was followed by two more days of duty on " Thresher " search operations 27 – 28 June . Taking up new duties , " Hissem " sailed 12 August for New Zealand and Operation Deepfreeze , the Navy ' s continuing effort at exploration and scientific work in Antarctica . The radar picket ship operated between the continent and New Zealand as a navigational beacon and rescue ship for flights to and from the Navy ' s air facility at McMurdo Sound . " Hissem " remained a member of Operation " Deep Freeze " from 19 September to 28 February 1964 . She then returned to the Atlantic Fleet by way of the Mediterranean , arriving 15 May . Early in 1965 " Hissem " was transferred to the Pacific Fleet . After a 5 - month training period at Pearl Harbor , she sailed for Vietnam 2 September . From January 1966 to March " Hissem " was a member of TF - 115 operating in the Tonkin Gulf to prevent the infiltration of supplies to the Viet Cong . On 8 March " Hissem " sailed for Pearl Harbor , where she underwent repairs and training . Once again ordered to Vietnam , " Hissem " left Hawaii 2 September and arrived Subic Bay 23 September . She resumed her previous duties and operated off Southeast Asia into 1967 . Fate . " Hissem " was decommissioned on 15 May 1970 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1975 . She was sunk as a target off California on 24 February 1982 . Honors . " Hissem " received one battle star for World War II service .