USS King ( DD - 242 ) USS " King " ( DD - 242 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the first ship named for Commander Frank Ragan King . " King " was laid down 28 April 1919 and launched 14 October 1920 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs . Allene A . King , widow of Commander King ; and commissioned 16 December 1920 , Lieutenant Commander R . C . Smith in command . Service history . After shakedown and training operations along the Atlantic Coast , " King " cleared Hampton Roads 2 October 1921 for her first Mediterranean cruise . Arriving Smyrna , Turkey , 8 November , the destroyer received 300 Greek refugees for transport to Mitylene , Greece . The destroyer served as station ship during the Crimean Crisis , remaining in Turkish waters until June 1923 . Upon return to the United States during the summer , " King " joined the Atlantic Scouting Fleet and from 1923 to 1930 engaged in fleet exercises and reserve training cruises along the coast and in the Caribbean . She sailed for the Pacific 15 April 1925 for maneuvers in Hawaiian waters . During the spring of 1927 , she patrolled waters off Nicaragua to protect American citizens and interests during the civil war in that country . " King " decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 10 March 1931 . She recommissioned 13 June 1932 and departed Hampton Roads 18 August to join the Pacific Scouting Force . " King " operated out of California for the next 6 years , engaging in central Pacific exercises , reserve cruises and training maneuvers to strengthen America ' s powerful sea force . The destroyer decommissioned at San Diego , California 21 September 1938 . World War II . Soon after Nazi aggression began the Second World War in Europe , " King " recommissioned 26 September 1939 , Lieutenant Commander E . E . Berthold in command . The destroyer cleared San Diego 13 November to join the Caribbean Neutrality Patrol . Following arrival at Norfolk , Virginia 22 February 1940 , the destroyer operated along the East Coast on Neutrality Patrol out of Boston , Massachusetts and Key West , before returning to the West Coast during the fall . She continued patrol and maneuvers out of San Francisco , California , operating in that area at the outbreak of hostilities with Japan . During the first 5 months of the war , " King " operated on patrol and escort duty along the West Coast . Departing Mare Island 22 May 1942 , she joined Task Force 8 escorting troop transport President Millard Fillmore to the Aleutian Islands . Arriving Dutch Harbor 3 June , " King " operated on antisubmarine warfare ( ASW ) and screening patrols in the Aleutians throughout the summer , and fought with Task Group 8 . 6 during the bombardment of Kiska in August . She remained in the Aleutians until she sailed for San Francisco 22 December 1943 . After overhaul , " King " operated off the West Coast for the rest of the war , as patrol vessel and an ASW screen . She departed Treasure Island 28 August 1945 arriving Philadelphia 20 September . " King " decommissioned there 23 October 1945 , and was sold to Boston Metals for scrapping on 29 September 1946 . Awards . " King " received one battle star for World War II service .