USS Howard F . Clark ( DE - 533 ) USS " Howard F . Clark " ( DE - 533 ) was a acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II . The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy , in addition to other tasks as assigned , such as patrol or radar picket . " Howard F . Clark " was named in honor of Howard Franklin Clark who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice and was missing in action after action in the Battle of the Coral Sea . She was launched by the Boston Navy Yard 8 November 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Howard Clark , widow of the namesake ; and commissioned at Boston , Massachusetts , 25 May 1944 , Lt . Comdr . E . B . Hayden in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Howard , F . Clark " conducted shakedown training off Bermuda , returned to Norfolk , Virginia , 16 August , and two days later got underway for the Pacific Ocean . She transited the Panama Canal , called briefly at San Diego , California , and reported for duty at Pearl Harbor 18 September . For the next 3 months " Howard F . Clark " participated in battle maneuvers and training exercises in preparation for her part in the Navy ' s sweeping island campaign against Japan . Acting as screening ship during carrier operations , and later training with the Pacific Fleet Gunnery and Torpedo School , She departed Pearl Harbor 11 December 1944 . Supporting Philippine Islands operations . The destroyer escort arrived Manus 22 December and joined Admiral Stump ' s escort carrier group , forming for the important Lingayen Gulf invasion . The ships got underway 27 December , with " Howard F . Clark " in screening position , were joined by fast troop transports , and arrived Leyte Gulf 3 January 1945 , where the entire invasion group assembled . This formidable force departed the same day for Lingayen Gulf , and began soon after its departure to experience fierce Japanese air attacks . Under attack by kamikaze planes . The next day , she succeeded in downing several attackers . The toll , especially from suicide attacks , was high , but the force proceeded to its objective after splashing many of the aircraft , and the troops stormed ashore at Lingayen 6 January 1945 . During the important landing and the battle which followed , " Howard F . Clark " screened the escort carriers as they furnished air support to soldiers ashore and flew combat missions to keep the skies above clear of enemy aircraft . The destroyer escort had occasion both 8 and 9 January to rescue downed aviators from the water , and was detached soon after the second rescue to return to Ulithi with Admiral Durgin ' s carriers . Supporting Iwo Jima operations . Arriving 23 January 1945 , they got underway 1 February for the next major step in the campaign - - Iwo Jima . She became part of an underway replenishment group off Eniwetok and steamed to the eastward of the Marianas , where the group refueled and replenished Task Force 58 13 – 14 February . During the next days she protected the refueling operations of many ships in support of the Iwo Jima landings to come , landings which would provide an important air base for attacks against Japan . She arrived off the bitterly - contested island 5 March , spent 2 days patrolling the refueling area offshore , and returned to Ulithi 10 March . Supporting Okinawa operations . " Howard F . Clark " joined with ammunition - laden LST ' s at Ulithi and departed 21 March for Okinawa , the next island on the schedule of victory in the Pacific . Reaching recently captured Kerama Retto 28 March with her precious convoy , she then steamed again for refueling rendezvous protecting the task force ships as they refueled . This duty engaged her until returning to Ulithi 13 April , after which the destroyer escort steamed back toward Okinawa 22 April with another refueling task force . Task Force 58 was again serviced 26 April , and 6 May " Howard F . Clark " departed again for Ulithi as part of the escort for battleship . She arrived 9 May and was soon at sea again screening another unit of Admiral Beary ' s U . S . 5th Fleet replenishment group . More refueling operations were conducted in the ocean approaches to Okinawa until 10 June , when " Howard F . Clark " was detached to escort an oiler unit to Guam . They arrived 13 June and continued to Ulithi , 22 June . End - of - war operations . " Howard F . Clark " continued her vital screening operations as Admiral Beary ' s group became part of U . S . 3rd Fleet . Steaming from Ulithi 3 July 1945 , the ships replenished Task Force 38 , thus supporting the carrier strikes against the Japanese mainland . During these operations , 8 July , the alert escort vessel rescued a pilot after a forced landing on the starboard bow of escort carrier . Subsequently , she made three voyages ' in support of the buildup on Okinawa , returning from the final passage 7 September 1945 . After several weeks of patrol and training maneuvers off Ulithi , she arrived Guam 11 October . The ship made one more stop at Ulithi 22 October , then sailed to Guam with a cargo of spare parts . She departed 5 November for the United States . Final decommissioning . The destroyer escort arrived San Pedro , California , via Pearl Harbor , 23 November 1945 , and decommissioned 15 July 1946 at San Diego , California . Entering the reserve fleet , San Diego Group , she was later transferred to Stockton , California . On 15 May 1972 she was struck from the Navy List , and , on 6 September 1973 she was sold for scrapping . Military awards . No battle star s are listed in Navy records ; however , it appears the vessel should have been awarded at least three battle stars based on her campaign record .