USS Gilmer ( DD - 233 ) USS " Gilmer " ( DD - 233 / APD - 11 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the first ship named for Secretary of the Navy Thomas Walker Gilmer . " Gilmer " was launched 24 May 1919 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs . Elizabeth Gilmer Miles , Secretary Gilmer ' s granddaughter ; and commissioned 30 April 1920 , Lieutenant , junior grade Harold J . Wright commanding . Service history . From 27 August 1920 to 11 August 1923 , " Gilmer " made two round trip transatlantic voyages out of New York to European and Mediterranean ports . She subsequently engaged in training exercises along the Eastern seaboard , in the Caribbean , and out of West Coast ports until 1938 . This varied duty was highlighted by a cruise to Nicaragua in 1926 to protect American lives and property during the guerrilla war led by Augusto César Sandino , an escort voyage to Havana guarding President Calvin Coolidge in in 1928 , and disaster relief work in the Caribbean during the same year . Decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 31 August 1938 , " Gilmer " recommissioned 25 September 1939 following the outbreak of World War II and was attached to the Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Division as flagship . She conducted patrols and exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean until reaching San Diego , California 4 November 1940 and continued these duties along the Pacific coast until the United States entered the war . World War II . " Gilmer " was at sea off Puget Sound when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 . She immediately began antisubmarine patrol and escort duties and continued her missions until entering drydock 13 November 1942 . She was redesignated as a high speed transport , APD - 11 , on 22 January 1943 following conversion . She sailed from Seattle , Washington 29 January via San Diego for Pearl Harbor , arriving 13 February , and subsequently escorted merchantmen to Espiritu Santo , where she moored 9 March and commenced amphibious training exercises with the 4th Marine Raiders Battalion . On 5 April , " Gilmer " sailed from Tulagi and as flagship of Transport Division 16 engaged in antisubmarine patrols in those waters . She called at Noumea 22 April , and put in at Townsville , Australia , 8 May , making two round trip escort voyages thence to Brisbane 13 May - 22 June 1943 . Escort and patrolling from Australia to New Guinea continued until 4 September 1943 , when " Gilmer " participated in the Allied assault on the Huon Peninsula near Lae , New Guinea , and patrolled off Buna , New Guinea . She supported American and Australian forces in the New Guinea campaign , and made frequent escort voyages thence to Australia and return . On 26 December 1943 , she landed troops of the 1st Marine Division at Cape Gloucester , New Britain , and stood by to support landings at Finschhafen 3 days later . On 2 January 1944 , elements of the 126th Infantry were landed at Saidon . " Gilmer " engaged in patrols of Buna , Cape Sudest , and Australia and bombarded Humboldt Bay , New Guinea , 22 April 1944 when Army forces began the assault . On 12 May the ship sailed from Hollandia to embark underwater demolition teams ( UDT ) at Pearl Harbor and debarked them 14 June 1944 at the initial assault on Saipan . Two days later she discovered and sank four Japanese cargo ships , taking 24 prisoners , escaping serious damage . Tinian Town was bombarded 23 June and UDT operations off that island continued until 14 July when " Gilmer " , along with , formed an offensive antisubmarine warfare group and sank in 18°18 ' N , 146°26 ' E . " Gilmer " sailed from Tinian 12 August for Pearl Harbor and until January 1945 conducted demolition and reconnaissance training with UDT teams in Hawaiian waters . She sailed 10 January as flagship for rehearsal exercises at Ulithi , and on 16 February closed Iwo Jima for the initial amphibious assaults . UDT teams were landed on the eastern and western beaches , and " Gilmer " screened as the big ship bombarded Japanese defenses on Iwo Jima . Patrolling and screening activities continued through 24 February , when " Gilmer " sailed for Leyte , arriving four days later . After touching Ulithi , she took part in the Okinawa operation , closing that island 25 March 1945 as flagship of the UDT ' s . The next day , a " kamikaze " hit her galley deckhouse , killing one and wounding three crewmen . " Gilmer " supported the invasion until 9 April when she sailed for repairs at Pearl Harbor , but returned to Okinawa 4 July to recommence patrolling duties . Following antisubmarine screening assignments for convoys bound from the Philippines to Okinawa , " Gilmer " moored at Nagasaki 13 September after Japan ' s surrender to carry prisoners of war from there to Okinawa . She sailed from that island 15 October to escort a convoy to Hong Kong , arriving 22 October , and sailed again 2 days later to escort troopships carrying the Chinese 13th Army to Chinwangtao . After further escort and patrol voyages along the China coast , " Gilmer " sailed from Tsingtao 26 November for the United States and finally moored in the U . S . again at Philadelphia 11 January 1946 . Fate . Decommissioned 5 February 1946 , her name was struck from the Navy list 25 February 1946 . She was sold for scrapping 3 December 1946 . Awards . " Gilmer " received seven battle star s for World War II service . See also . See USS " Gilmer " for other ships of this name .