USS Lamberton ( DD - 119 ) USS " Lamberton " ( DD - 119 ) / ( DMS - 2 ) was a " Wickes " - class destroyer in the United States Navy . She was the only ship named for Benjamin P . Lamberton , an admiral who had served with Admiral Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay . " Lamberton " was laid down 1 October 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , Newport News , Virginia ; launched 30 March 1918 ; sponsored by Miss Isabell Stedman Lamberton , Admiral Lamberton ' s granddaughter ; and commissioned 22 August 1918 , Lieutenant Commander Frank L . Slingluff in command . Service history . After shakedown in the Caribbean , " Lamberton " joined the Atlantic Fleet for maneuvers off the Azores in the spring of 1919 . Reassigned to the newly formed Pacific Fleet , the destroyer departed Hampton Roads 19 July and arrived at San Diego 7 August . Based at San Diego , " Lamberton " operated along the west coast from August 1919 until June 1922 . She participated in training maneuvers and performed experiments to develop superior naval tactics . The destroyer decommissioned at San Diego 30 June 1922 . World War II . " Lamberton " recommissioned 15 November 1930 , Lieutenant Commander S . N . Moore in command . Operating along the west coast , she performed training exercises for nearly 2 years . She was reclassified AG - 21 on 16 April 1932 and converted to a target - towing ship . From 1933 until 1940 she operated out of San Diego towing targets for surface ships , submarines , and aircraft , a role which paid dividends during World War II . She also engaged in experimental minesweeping exercises off the west coast and was reclassified DMS - 2 on 19 November 1940 . The actor Ernest Borgnine served aboard the " Lamberton " before the war , being discharged in September 1941 . He reenlisted in January 1942 and served in the U . S . Navy with the Atlantic Fleet . After arriving Pearl Harbor 11 September 1941 , " Lamberton " resumed target towing and ASW screening operations in the Hawaiian Islands . On 7 December 1941 , she was escorting to Oahu when the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor . Following the attack , she returned to port to sweep the harbor . For the next 7 months she remained on offshore patrol in the Hawaiian Islands . Departing Pearl Harbor 11 July 1942 , " Lamberton " steamed north ; arriving at Kodiak , Alaska , 7 days later . The high - speed minesweeper performed patrol and escort duty in the frigid North Pacific during the Aleutian campaign . In mid - May 1943 , she escorted the task group which brought reinforcements for the second landing at Massacre Bay , Attu . " Lamberton " continued patrol operations until late June when she sailed for Kuluk Bay . The high - speed minesweeper then steamed to San Diego , arriving there 23 July . For the rest of the war , she performed target - towing operations off the west coast and out of Pearl Harbor . " Lamberton " was reclassified AG - 21 on 5 June 1945 , and , following the Japanese surrender , she operated out of San Diego as an auxiliary . She decommissioned at Bremerton , Washington , 13 December 1946 and was sold 9 May 1947 to National Metal and Steel Corporation , Terminal Island , Los Angeles , California for scrapping . Awards . " Lamberton " received one battle star for World War II service .