USS Duncan ( DD - 874 ) USS " Duncan " ( DD - 874 ) was a of the United States Navy , the third named for Captain Silas Duncan USN ( 1788 – 1834 ) . The ship was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange , Texas on 22 May 1944 , launched on 27 October 1944 by Mrs . D . C . Thayer and commissioned on 25 February 1945 , Commander P . D . Williams in command . The ship was sunk in 1980 . Service history . " Duncan " , converted to a radar picket destroyer during her post - shakedown overhaul , sailed from Norfolk on 2 June 1945 for the Pacific , and after touching at San Diego and Pearl Harbor , joined for screening and plane guard duty during the strikes on Wake Island of 1 August . After calling at Eniwetok , she continued to Okinawa to join the 7th Fleet for patrol duty off the Chinese and Korean coasts during the landing of occupation troops at Tsingtao , Taku , and Incheon . " Duncan " served in the Far East on occupation duty until 25 March 1946 when she sailed for the west coast , arriving at San Diego on 28 April . For the next year " Duncan " trained along the west coast , keeping high her operational skills and readiness . In May 1947 she departed San Diego for a five - month cruise to the Far East , where she visited Okinawa , Japan , and China . On her return to the States , " Duncan " resumed coastal operations with both aircraft and submarines . On 1 March 1948 she suffered 2 killed and 14 injured in an explosion on board . After repairs at Long Beach , California , the destroyer rejoined the fleet for training until January 1949 , when she again sailed for the western Pacific , this time for eight months . " Duncan " was reclassified DDR - 874 on 18 March 1949 . " Duncan " operated between San Diego and Pearl Harbor until November 1950 when she steamed into Korean waters to join the 7th Fleet . " Duncan " served a total of three tours off Korea during the fighting . She sailed as plane guard for carriers and as anti - submarine escort for battleships ; she fired shore bombardments in support of minesweepers and to interdict enemy communications ; she patrolled against North Korean minesweepers and fishing craft . Through all she added her significant contribution to the vast sea - borne support of the United Nations troops ashore . After the end of the Korean fighting in 1953 , " Duncan " remained busy in the Pacific , alternating Far Eastern duty with training and maintenance on the west coast . She visited Australia , Japan , the Philippines , Taiwan , Hong Kong , and many islands of the Pacific . During 1960 - 1961 " Duncan " entered the FRAM program , and underwent extensive overhaul and modernization at Long Beach Naval Shipyard . During the Vietnam War " Duncan " served as plane guard for aircraft carrier s on " Yankee Station " in the Gulf of Tonkin , participated in Operations " Sea Dragon " and " Market Time " , patrolled on search and rescue duties , and carried out naval gunfire support missions . " Duncan " was decommissioned on 15 January 1971 , struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 February 1974 , and sunk as a target off California on 31 July 1980 . Awards . " Duncan " received seven battle stars for Korean War service .