USS Maloy ( DE - 791 ) USS " Maloy " ( DE - 791 / EDE - 791 ) , a , was the first and only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Thomas Joel Maloy , who served aboard the during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Guadalcanal campaign . " Maloy " ( DE - 791 ) was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange , Texas , on 10 May 1943 ; launched on 18 August 1943 , sponsored by Mrs . Thomas J . Maloy , widow of Chief Water Tender Maloy ; and commissioned on 13 December 1943 , with Lieutenant Frederic D . Kellogg in command . Service history . World War II , 1943 – 1945 . " Maloy " spent her entire World War II service with the Atlantic Fleet . On her first assignment she escorted troop transports to the Panama Canal and screened an escort carrier back to the east coast . Then in early March 1944 she crossed the Atlantic to Northern Ireland , and until June conducted amphibious training along the English coast in preparation for the invasion of France . On D - Day , 6 June 1944 , " Maloy " supported operations off Omaha Beach in this hard - fought assault where naval gunfire support played a decisive role in victory . She continued to patrol off the Normandy coast and among the Channel Islands for the remainder of the war , raiding enemy shipping whenever possible . With the capitulation of Germany on 8 May 1945 , she escorted the first convoy to re - enter Saint Peter Port , Guernsey , Channel Islands . The destroyer escort then returned to the United States , arriving on 18 June 1945 . Operational Development Force , 1946 – 1965 . The following May , " Maloy " commenced working for Operational Development Force , New London Detachment , and was redesignated EDE - 791 on 14 August 1946 . For the next 18 years , " Maloy " played a large role in the ever - changing Navy , primarily testing and evaluating experimental equipment in connection with various projects of the Underwater Sound Laboratory . While testing the new equipment , " Maloy " continued to fulfill regular duties , which included service as a school and training ship for the Fleet Sonar School at Key West , and participated in anti - submarine warfare , convoy , and other fleet exercises . During this time she also successfully completed emergency assignments . At Portland , Maine , 11 November 1947 to 25 March 1948 , " Maloy " provided electrical power for the city when , because of extreme drought conditions , local power companies could not draw on their normal power source , the lakes and rivers of the area . In May and June 1961 , she cruised off the Dominican Republic to provide , if necessary , protection for American citizens during the revolution in that country . And the following year she provided support for the Cuban quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October – November . For the next two years , " Maloy " continued her test and evaluation assignments . Decommissioning and sale . She decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , on 28 May 1965 and was struck from the Navy List on 1 June 1965 . On 11 March 1966 , she was sold to the North American Smelting Company of Wilmington , Delaware , for scrap . Awards . " Maloy " received one battle star for World War II service . External links . A Web site devoted to the USS Maloy ( DE - 791 ) created by the last Executive Officer to serve on the ship .