USS Kilty ( DD - 137 ) USS " Kilty " ( DD – 137 ) was a " Wickes " - class destroyer in the United States Navy . She was the first ship named for Admiral Augustus Kilty . " Kilty " was launched 25 April 1918 by the Mare Island Navy Yard , Vallejo , California ; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Harrison Shapley ; and commissioned 17 December 1918 , Lieutenant Commander Timothy Jerome Keleher in command . Service history . After a Caribbean shakedown and a European cruise during the summer of 1919 , " Kilty " returned to San Diego and operated there until she decommissioned 5 June 1922 . World War II . " Kilty " recommissioned 18 December 1939 , and in April 1940 sailed on Neutrality Patrol out of San Diego . During the summer , she conducted reserve training cruises and resumed her patrols early in September . The destroyer continued these operations until the United States entered World War II . Then , " Kilty " intensified ASW patrols , trained armed - guard crews for merchantmen , and escorted coastal convoys throughout 1942 . Reclassified APD - 15 on 2 January 1943 , " Kilty " cleared Mare Island 2 March for the South Pacific . After arriving Noumea 8 April with a Marine Raiders battalion , the transport steamed toward Guadalcanal as an ASW screen 28 April . She made similar cruises until June when she reported for patrol and escort duty in the Solomons . " Kilty " played a vital role in the conquest of the Solomons , landing troops of the 37th Division on New Georgia Island 30 June and 4 July . Continuing operations in the area , she made three reinforcement runs up the " Slot " during July and landed troops on Vella Lavella Island 15 August . As Allied operations built up momentum , " Kilty " moved on to the Treasury Islands Campaign . She successfully landed New Zealand troops on Stirling Island 27 October and a Marine force on Bougainville 9 days later , enabling Allied Forces to bypass Rabaul . " Kilty " effectively aided this campaign in three more landings before sailing for Brisbane 21 November . Returning Milne Bay in mid - December , the transport began preparing for the assault on the Bismarck Archipelago . " Kilty " landed units of the 7th Marine Regiment for the initial attack on Cape Gloucester , New Britain 26 December . Following two more landings there , she sent troops ashore at Saidor 2 January 1944 to take an air strip which would help the Air Force patrol and support Cape Gloucester . " Kilty " s next objective was Green Island , where she landed troops on 15 and 20 February before returning to Port Purvis . Following an unopposed assault on Emirau Island 20 March , the transport prepared for the Hollandia campaign . Completing landings at Aitape 22 April , " Kilty " then participated in New Guinea landings , including Wakde 17 May and Biak 10 days later before putting into Humboldt Bay 28 May . After a minor overhaul at Milne Bay , she landed troops on Cape Sansopor 30 July before sailing to Sydney . Returning to Humboldt Bay 30 August , " Kilty " landed troops on Morotai 15 September to complete her operations in New Guinea area . " Kilty " departed Hollandia 12 October as part of the spearhead for the giant Leyte assault that bore down on the enemy like a typhoon . In the advance assault force she landed rangers on Dinagat in the entrance to Leyte Gulf 17 October to pave the way for the main Philippine invasion . While " Kilty " was returning to Hollandia 23 October , the U . S . Fleet was crushing the Japanese Navy in the famous battle for Leyte Gulf . During another cruise to Leyte in mid - November , the transport splashed two Aichi D3A " Vals " before they could crash into American LSTs . Continuing operations in the strategic Philippines , " Kilty " landed troops 15 December in the invasion of Mindoro , and on 11 January 1945 supported the Luzon landings . She made additional landings at Nasugbu 31 January and at Corregidor in mid - February before sailing for Ulithi 25 February for overhaul . Battle - proven " Kilty " cleared Ulithi 2 April as escort to four escort carriers ferrying planes to the Okinawa beachhead . During May she made another escort cruise from Saipan to Okinawa , and on the 4th rescued survivors from sunk during a " kamikaze " attack . With the Okinawa campaign well under way , " Kilty " departed Guam 17 May and arrived San Diego 18 June for overhaul . Redesignated DD - 137 on 20 July 1945 , " Kilty " was still in the yard as the war came to an end . The veteran destroyer decommissioned 2 November 1945 , and was sold 26 August 1946 to the National Metal & Steel Corporation for scrapping . Awards . " Kilty " received ten battle stars for World War II service . As of 2009 , no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name .