USS Bradford ( DD - 545 ) USS " Bradford " ( DD - 545 ) was a " Fletcher " - class destroyer of the United States Navy . She was named for Captain Gamaliel Bradford ( 1768 – 1824 ) , a privateer during the Quasi - War with France . " Bradford " was launched 12 December 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co . , Terminal Island , Calif . , sponsored by Mrs . Sarah Bradford Rose , great - great - granddaughter of Captain Bradford , and commissioned 12 June 1943 Commander R . L . Morris in command . Service history . World War II . " Bradford " sailed for Pearl Harbor 18 August 1943 . On 25 August , less than 24 hours after arrival in Pearl Harbor , she was underway for Baker Island to take part in its capture and occupation ( 1 September ) . Afterwards , " Bradford " joined the carrier striking forces to participate in the Tarawa raid ( 18 September ) and the Wake Island raid ( 5 – 6 October ) . She operated as a screening unit in Task Group 52 . 3 ( TG 52 . 3 ) , covering the occupation of the Gilbert Islands ( 13 November – 8 December ) . Following this operation she went to Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides , and was assigned to TG 37 . 2 . With this group " Bradford " participated in three strikes ( 25 December 1943 , 1 and 4 January 1944 ) against the shipping and harbor installations at Kavieng , New Ireland , during the Bismarck Archipelago operations . Between 29 January and 8 February she took part in the occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls , during the Marshall Islands campaign . In the ensuing months " Bradford " participated in the Truk attack ( 17 – 18 February ) , during which she scored several torpedo and 5 - inch gunfire hits on an enemy cruiser and destroyer , and the Marianas raids ( 21 – 22 February ) . She then supported In September she returned to the United States for a complete overhaul . " Bradford " steamed to Pearl Harbor in December 1944 and , after undergoing training as a fire support ship , took part in the assault on Iwo Jima ( 19 – 27 February 1945 ) . In the Okinawa operation ( 24 March – 25 July ) she supported the landing and occupation operations as a screening unit of TG 52 . 1 and as a radar picket ship . From 25 July to 10 August she participated In 3rd Fleet operations against Japan . She acted as a fire support and fighter director ship for the minesweeping operations in the East China Sea - Ryukyus area ( 10 – 25 August ) . After a number of transport missions in the Far East " Bradford " left for San Diego 31 October 1945 where she was placed out of commission in reserve 11 July 1946 . 1950 – 1961 . " Bradford " was recommissioned 27 October 1950 and reported to the Pacific fleet . Between 29 January 1951 and 2 November 1953 she completed three Far Eastern tours ( 29 January – August 1951 , 22 March – November 1952 , and May – November 1953 ) during which she acted as a unit of TF 77 and TF 95 on duty off Korea . While on this duty she engaged in shore bombardment and patrolling in support of the United Nations ground forces . She made three additional cruises to the Far East . Between these cruises she operated out of San Diego conducting extensive individual and type training exercises . " Bradford " was decommissioned 28 September 1961 . HNS " Thyella " ( D - 22 ) . The ship was transferred to Greece 27 September 1962 . She served in the Greek Navy as HNS " Thyella " ( D - 22 ) ( " Storm " ) . She was stricken in 1981 and scrapped . Awards . " Bradford " received the Navy Unit Commendation for her services as a radar picket ship during the Okinawa operation . In addition , she received 12 battle star s for her World War II service and six battle stars for her participation in the Korean War .