USS Kendrick ( DD - 612 ) USS " Kendrick " ( DD - 612 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Charles S . Kendrick . " Kendrick " was launched 2 April 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Corporation , San Pedro , California ; sponsored by Mrs . J . Hanson Delvac , a great - granddaughter of Acting Master Charles S . Kendrick ; and commissioned 12 September 1942 , Lieutenant Commander C . T . Caufield in command . Operation Torch . After shakedown exercises along the West Coast , " Kendrick " cleared San Diego , California on 11 December 1942 and arrived Casco Bay , Maine on 28 December for ASW exercises . The destroyer then sailed to New York to join Convoy UG - S - 4 and sailed 13 January 1943 for Casablanca . She returned to New York 13 February with another convoy , and commenced patrol , escort , and training from Norfolk , Virginia to Newfoundland . " Kendrick " departed New York 28 April for a round trip escort mission to Oran , Algeria , and returned New York on 8 June . After 3 days , the destroyer once again steamed toward the Mediterranean Sea , escorting Rear Admiral Alan G . Kirk ' s Task Force 85 , which carried Major General Troy Middleton ' s 45th Infantry Division . She arrived Oran , staging area for the invasion of Sicily , on 22 June . " Kendrick " sailed 5 July and arrived off the beaches of Scoglitti 4 days later . She guarded transports and landing craft until 12 July , then steamed as escort for troop ships via Oran to New York , arriving there 4 August . She returned to Oran 2 September . That night , a German dive bomber ( Hinkle 111 ) made a surprise attack on " Kendrick " s starboard quarter . The plane roared in 50 feet above the water and launched two torpedoes before it was shot down by the destroyer ' s gunners . One of the torpedoes struck " Kendrick ' s " stern , damaging her rudder , steering compartment , and fantail , and killed one crew member . As she turned back to Oran , the destroyer stopped to throw life rings to the crew of the enemy plane and reported their position . Mediterranean Operations . After temporary repairs at Oran , " Kendrick " was towed to Norfolk , arriving 26 October . Upon completion of repairs she made a round - trip escort cruise to the United Kingdom before sailing 18 February 1944 as a convoy escort . Arriving Oran 5 March , she prepared for patrol and screening operations , and joined the screen of . For nearly 3 months , the destroyer repeatedly provided effective gunfire in support of ground troops advancing up the Italian boot . After Rome was liberated , she stood by to support the Allied drive in northern Italy . She cleared Palermo 12 August for the invasion of southern France . As a unit of Rear Admiral Morton Deyo ' s American - French bombardment group , " Kendrick " gave direct fire support to the 36th Infantry Division storming the beaches on 15 August . She helped silence German 88 mm guns from 15 to 16 August , and bombarded gun emplacements and ammunition dumps at St . Madrier , France from 25 to 26 August . Upon completion of her mission , the destroyer steamed toward the United States , arriving at Boston , Massachusetts on 19 September . " Kendrick " escorted a convoy to the Mediterranean Sea in mid - November , before returning New York 15 December . She joined a convoy and once again departed Norfolk 6 January 1945 , reporting for duty with the 8th Fleet 18 January . For the next 4 months she performed air - sea rescue , escort duty , fire support missions , and patrol duty in the Mediterranean as the war in Europe came to an end . " Kendrick " cleared Oran 15 May with a convoy and put into New York 8 days later . Following repairs at New York and refresher training in Cuba , the destroyer transited the Panama Canal , arriving Pearl Harbor on 28 August via San Diego , California . She engaged in training exercises out of Hawaii before returning Charleston , South Carolina on 16 October . Fate . " Kendrick " remained at Charleston until she decommissioned and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange , Texas , 31 March 1947 . On 1 May 1966 , her name was struck from the Navy List , and " Kendrick " was used in destruction tests at sea by the David Taylor Model Basin . Awards . " Kendrick " received three battle star s for World War II service . As of 2009 , no other ship in the United States Navy has been named " Kendrick " .