USS Dewey ( DD - 349 ) The first USS " Dewey " ( DD - 349 ) was a " Farragut " - class destroyer of the United States Navy , launched in 1934 and named for Admiral George Dewey . " Dewey " served in the Pacific through World War II . After escaping damage during the attack on Pearl Harbor , " Dewey " screened the aircraft carrier until the carrier was lost in the battle of the Coral Sea ; then screened through the invasion of Guadalcanal and the battle of the Eastern Solomons . Following overhaul in San Francisco , " Dewey " spent 1943 in Alaskan waters supporting the invasions of Attu and Kiska . " Dewey " spent 1944 supporting raids in the Marshalls , Carolines , and Marianas , including screening carriers during the battle of the Philippine Sea . After being damaged by Typhoon Cobra during the recapture of the Philippines , " Dewey " supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and spent the remainder of the war screening replenishment oiler s . History . " Dewey " was launched 28 July 1934 by Bath Iron Works , Bath , Maine ; sponsored by Miss A . M . Dewey , great - grandniece of Admiral Dewey ; and commissioned 4 October 1934 , Commander H . W . Hill in command . After two training cruises to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and Port - au - Prince , Haiti , " Dewey " sailed from Norfolk , Virginia , 1 April 1935 for San Diego , California , arriving 14 April . Until 1938 she operated principally from this port on local operations as well as engaging in fleet tactics , battle practice , and scheduled exercises . She cruised along the West Coast as far north as Alaska and as far south as Callao , Peru , and made three cruises to the Hawaiian area . From 4 January to 12 April 1939 she returned to the Atlantic for a fleet problem . " Dewey " arrived at Pearl Harbor 12 October 1939 and participated in tactical exercises , battle practice , fleet problems , and maneuvers until 1941 . World War II . When the Japan ese attacked Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 , " Dewey " was undergoing tender overhaul . She took the enemy planes under attack and that afternoon got underway to patrol in the Hawaiian area . On 15 December she joined TF 11 sailing to relieve the Marine garrison on Wake Island , which fell on 23 December . " Dewey " returned to her patrol assignment . In February 1942 she rejoined TF 11 for a projected strike on Rabaul . The force was sighted by two enemy patrol planes and the strike was canceled after " Dewey " aided in downing some of 18 bombers led to the force by radio reports from the patrol planes . She continued to screen " Lexington " in the strikes on Lae and Salamaua , New Guinea , on 10 March and returned to Pearl Harbor on the 26th . TF 11 sortied from Pearl Harbor 15 April 1942 for operations in the Solomon Islands . On 5 May word came that the Japanese were advancing on Port Moresby , and " Dewey " s group joined in the battle of the Coral Sea . When " Lexington " came under intensive attack , " Dewey " joined in sending up antiaircraft fire , suffering five men wounded from enemy strafing . " Lexington " was badly hit , and as fires raged out of control , she was abandoned , with " Dewey " rescuing 112 of the carrier ' s survivors . She screened " Yorktown " into Noumea 12 May , and then returned to Pearl Harbor 25 May in the screen for . " Dewey " sailed three days later in the " Enterprise " task force . The Battle of Midway was joined 2 to 6 June , and throughout this action " Dewey " screened . Returning to Pearl Harbor 9 June , " Dewey " escorted as the carrier brought an air squadron to Midway between 22 and 29 June . On 7 July she cleared for the initial landings on Guadalcanal , which she bombarded 7 August . On that day of the first assault , " Dewey " fired on attacking dive bombers , whose bombs wounded one of her men . She went to the rescue of two ships , aiding to regain power , and towing until her damage made it necessary to abandon her . " Dewey " rescued 40 of the transport ' s survivors . " Dewey " remained in the Solomons to protect supply and communication lines , and screened " Saratoga " during the battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942 . She escorted " Saratoga " , damaged by submarine torpedo 31 August , to Pearl Harbor , arriving 23 September , and 6 days later sailed for overhaul at San Francisco . On 27 December 1942 she got underway for duty in Alaskan waters . When ran aground at Amchitka , " Dewey " attempted to tow her off the rocks , then aided in rescuing her survivors when stormy weather forced her abandonment . On 7 April 1943 , " Dewey " sailed for San Pedro to escort an assault group to Attu for the invasion 11 May . She also took part in the landings at Kiska 15 August , before escorting a group of LSTs to San Francisco , arriving 19 September . 1944 . Sailing from San Diego 13 January 1944 , " Dewey " arrived off Kwajalein 31 January and served as escort during the carrier strike on Majuro of 11 February and the invasion landings on Eniwetok on 18 February . She escorted convoys between Eniwetok , Roi , and Majuro , and bombarded Mille Atoll on 17 – 18 March . From 22 March to 6 June , she operated in the screen of TF 58 , taking part in raids on Palau , Yap , Ulithi and Woleai ; the invasion of Hollandia on 21 and 22 April ; and the strike on Truk of 29 April to 1 May . On 6 June , she sailed to screen carriers in fighter sweeps against Tinian and Saipan on 11 June , then bombarded of Saipan and Tinian on 13 and 14 June , when she fired on enemy barges and started a fire in an oil dump . During the Marianas landings , " Dewey " screened the carriers during the resulting battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 and 20 June , and rescued several pilots and crew members who were forced to ditch . " Dewey " joined the transport screen 1 July 1944 for the invasion of Guam . She furnished close fire support for reconnaissance groups , covered the work of underwater demolition teams , conducted night harassing fire , and patrolled off the island until 28 July , when she sailed for a brief overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard . " Dewey " put to sea 30 September 1944 to join the logistics group for the 3rd Fleet on 10 October . She screened this group in its refueling operations for the Philippines invasion until the typhoon of 18 December , which heavily damaged the units of the 3rd Fleet . " Dewey " had lost all power by noon , and was rolling more than 75 degrees ; her number one stack was torn and thrown against the boat deck . She rejoined her group 8 February 1945 , after repairs had been completed at Ulithi , and arrived at Iwo Jima 17 February , where she assisted in putting out fires on . Aiding the Marines who assaulted the island 19 February , she helped break up a Japanese counter - attack by firing star shell illumination on 23 February . After escorting a convoy to Leyte from 4 to 6 March 1945 , " Dewey " rejoined the logistics group for the Okinawa operation , screening the oilers as they refueled the carriers in preinvasion air strikes and the raids in the Far East , which continued until the end of the war . Fate . On 21 August , she got underway for San Diego , arriving 7 September . She continued to the east coast , arriving at Brooklyn Navy Yard 25 September . " Dewey " was decommissioned 19 October 1945 and sold 20 December 1946 . Awards . " Dewey " received 13 battle star s for World War II service .