USS Caldwell ( DD - 605 ) USS " Caldwell " ( DD - 605 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for James R . Caldwell . " Caldwell " was launched 15 January 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Corporation , San Francisco , California ; sponsored by Miss A . Caldwell ; and commissioned 10 June 1942 , Lieutenant Commander J . F . Newman , Jr . , in command . Service history . On 11 September 1942 , " Caldwell " turned her bow northward from San Francisco and joined the screen of an Aleutians - bound convoy . For the next 9 months the destroyer battled foul weather as she shepherded shipping and cruised with TG 8 . 6 in unrewarded search for the enemy in Alaskan waters . Her guns pounded Attu twice in preparation for the assault which would recapture that American outpost . When soldiers of the 17th and 32d Infantry stormed ashore on 11 May 1943 , they were covered to the southward by " Caldwell " and the other ships of TG 16 . 6 . With Attu taken , the destroyer returned to convoy escort ; " Caldwell " sailed in the screen of the force which carried reinforcements to Kiska , Alaska on 16 August 1943 , the day after the first landings on that rugged island . " Caldwell " left the fog , mists , and cold of the Aleutians behind in September 1943 , and steamed south to join TF 15 for the 18 September air strikes which destroyed half of the enemy airplanes on Tarawa . Action followed thick and fast for the next month as the destroyer joined TF 14 , the largest fast carrier force yet organized , in blasting Wake Island . " Caldwell " bombarded Peale and Wake Islands and screened aircraft carrier s launching air attacks against those islets . The destroyer ' s next mission found her covering LST s in the followup to the invasion of Makin , Gilbert Islands . Her charges safely delivered on 21 November , " Caldwell " took station on antisubmarine and air defense patrol for the next week . A well - earned rest came in the form of duty escorting a San Francisco - bound convoy . After a brief overhaul , the destroyer returned to action with TF 52 in the invasion of Kwajalein and Majuro 31 January 1944 . During the continual maneuvering , characteristic of carrier task forces , " Caldwell " and collided ; the destroyer remained with the task force another week , then returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs . At sea again , " Caldwell " joined TF 58 in the Palau - Yap - Ulithi - Woleai raids ( 30 March - 1 April ) ; strikes on New Guinea in support of Army landings on that island ( 22 – 24 April ) ; and the Truk - Satawan - Ponape raids ( 29 April - 1 May ) . She remained on patrol in the Marshall Islands until mid - August when she sailed to Pearl Harbor for much - needed upkeep . " Caldwell " s next assignment sent her by way of Ulithi and Manus to screen convoys supplying the forces which had landed in the Philippines . On 11 December , " Caldwell " had a near miss with a " kamikaze " , and the next day , while escorting landing craft to Ormoc Bay , she bore the brunt of the air attack . Hit on the bridge simultaneously by a " kamikaze " and fragments from a two - bomb straddle , the destroyer suffered 33 killed and 40 wounded including the commanding officer . Despite the heavy damage , " Caldwells after guns continued to fire on enemy planes , while her damage control parties saved the ship . Temporary repairs made at San Pedro Bay , Philippines , fitted " Caldwell " for the voyage to San Francisco where she was again put in fighting trim . April 1945 saw the destroyer once more in her familiar role as convoy escort , this time in support of the invasion of Tarakan , Borneo . " Caldwell " bombarded Tarakan ( 11 – 12 May ) , then moved to cover the minesweeping operations off Brunei Bay . Here , on 27 June , she detonated an influence - type mine , but escaped with moderate damage and no casualties . After temporary repairs at Victoria , Australia , she sailed to San Pedro Bay , P . I . , for final repairs . She was there when hostilities ended . Escort of landing craft convoys to Okinawa and Leyte followed in September and October 1945 . After a visit to Tokyo Bay , " Caldwell " returned to the States ; she was placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston , South Carolina , on 24 April 1946 . She was struck 1 May 1965 and sold for scrap on 4 November 1966 . Awards . " Caldwell " received eight battle star s for service in World War II .