USS Cole ( DD - 155 ) USS " Cole " ( DD - 155 ) was a " Wickes " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II , later reclassified as AG - 116 . She was the first ship named for Edward B . Cole , a USMC officer who died as a result of the wounds he received at the Battle of Belleau Wood . " Cole " was launched 11 January 1919 , by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania sponsored by Mrs . E . B . Cole , and commissioned 19 June 1919 with Commander I . F . Dortch in command . Service history . " Cole " sailed from New York 30 June 1919 , to join U . S . Naval Forces in Turkish waters . For the next year she aided in the evacuation of refugees fleeing turmoil and war in the Middle East and showed the flag in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea , returning to New York 4 June 1920 . She cruised in East Coast and Caribbean waters until decommissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 10 July 1922 . Recommissioned 1 May 1930 , " Cole " joined the Scouting Fleet in the Atlantic . Once again she cruised along the east coast and in the Caribbean and took part in training exercises . From 22 October 1932 , to 24 March 1933 , " Cole " was in reduced commission at Norfolk Naval Shipyard as part of a rotating reserve squadron . On 4 April 1933 , the destroyer participated in the fruitless search for survivors of the wreck of . From 3 February to 14 August 1934 , the ship was again reduced to the rotating reserve squadron . On 15 August 1934 , " Cole " was assigned to the Scouting Force in the Pacific , and following maneuvers in the Caribbean reached her new base at San Diego , California 9 November . She remained in the Pacific until 24 May 1936 , and then reported to New York as a Naval Reserve training ship . She arrived at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 25 September and was decommissioned there 7 January 1937 . Recommissioned 16 October 1939 , " Cole " joined the Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic . From 10 June 1941 , she escorted convoys to Newfoundland and Iceland making five such voyages by 28 January 1942 . From 14 March to 28 September , the destroyer patrolled and escorted convoys along the east coast , making one convoy run to the Virgin Islands . She put to sea from Norfolk 24 October for the invasion of North Africa on 8 November during which she landed 175 men of the 47th Infantry under fire on a pier at Safi , Morocco . " Cole " received the Presidential Unit Citation for her fine performance of this hazardous mission . Returning to Boston 1 December , she resumed convoy duty and between 18 December 1942 , and 16 February 1943 , she operated between the east coast , Newfoundland , and Nova Scotia , then made a voyage to Gibraltar in March . The destroyer returned to the Mediterranean , reaching Mers El Kébir , Algeria , 23 May . Along with patrol and escort duties in the Western Mediterranean , " Cole " took part in the invasion of Sicily 10 July 1943 , acting with a British submarine as a beach identification group , and later guarded transports during the assault on Salerno 9 September . She returned to Charleston , South Carolina , for overhaul 24 December , after which she resumed convoy escort duty along the east coast and in the Caribbean , making one voyage to Casablanca in March 1944 . On 3 December 1944 , she began duty as a plane guard for carriers conducting air operations out of Quonset Point , Rhode Island , which continued until 31 August 1945 . She was reclassified AG - 116 30 June 1945 . " Cole " was decommissioned 1 November 1945 , and sold 6 October 1947 . Awards . In addition to the Presidential Unit Citation , " Cole " received three battle star s for World War II service .