USS MacKenzie ( DD - 614 ) USS " MacKenzie " ( DD - 614 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the third ship named for Lieutenant Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie . " MacKenzie " was laid down 29 May 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation , San Pedro , California ; launched 27 June 1942 ; sponsored by Miss Gail Nielsen , descendant of Lieutenant Commander MacKenzie ; and commissioned 21 November 1942 , Commander D . B . Miller in command . Service history . " MacKenzie " transited the Panama Canal 1 March 1943 , after completion of shakedown and training cruises , and continued on to spend her entire World War II career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters . She arrived at Casco Bay , Maine , 13 March and commenced coastwise escort duties . In May , she graduated to transatlantic convoy assignments , completing two voyages to the Mediterranean Sea by the end of June . On 16 May , she made two depth charge attacks on a sonar contact ; postwar review of German records proved them successful in the sinking of . Relieved of transatlantic duties at the end of June , she reported to the staging area for the “ Cent ” Attack Force , one of three such forces to initiate the Sicilian campaign . On 9 July she departed the north African coast , arriving at Scoglitti , Sicily , the next day to screen the transport vessels and provide fire support . Three days later , the destroyer returned to convoy duty , conducting convoys between the United States and the Mediterranean until 7 October , and then engaging in escort work between North America and the United Kingdom . After repairs at Swansea , England , in the late autumn , she made two more ocean crossings before beginning operations in the Mediterranean . On 18 March 1944 , " MacKenzie " steamed into the harbor at Naples to report for screening , fire support and antisubmarine patrol duties in conjunction with the Anzio operation . Starting her Anzio assignments with an assist in the sinking of a two - man submarine on the 19th , she continued to provide support on this front until resuming convoy duties 6 June . Taking up the offensive again in August , " MacKenzie " took part in Operation Dragoon , providing fire support for this invasion of southern France . On 15 September , she departed the Mediterranean and headed for Boston , Massachusetts and a 5 - month repair and overhaul period . The destroyer took up duty in the Mediterranean again in February 1945 and from 28 March through 21 April spent her days in the bombardment of the Franco - Italian border and her nights on the blockade of the Gulf of Genoa . In May , having assisted in the continuance of an effective second front , " MacKenzie " was assigned to convoy duty in the Strait of Gibraltar . She remained in the Mediterranean after the capitulation of the Third Reich , cruising its waters until returning to the United States in July . Upon her arrival , " MacKenzie " underwent overhaul preparatory to going to the Pacific . But , with the end of Pacific hostilities in mid - August , her orders were changed and on 4 November she entered the Charleston Navy Yard for inactivation . She decommissioned 4 February 1946 and in January 1947 entered the reserve fleet at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1971 and sunk in fleet exercises on 1 June 1974 . Awards . " MacKenzie " received four battle star s for World War II service .