USS Hammerberg ( DE - 1015 ) USS " Hammerberg " ( DE - 1015 ) , a , was a ship of the United States Navy named for Navy diver Francis P . Hammerberg ( 1920 – 1945 ) , of Flint , Michigan , who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for rescuing two fellow divers from a wreck in Pearl Harbor . " Hammerberg " was launched 20 August 1954 by Bath Iron Works , Bath , Maine , sponsored by Mrs . Elizabeth Moss ; and commissioned 2 March 1955 , Lieutenant Commander Murray E . Draper in command . Based at Naval Station Newport R . I . , " Hammerberg " participated in convoy exercises , trained students at the Fleet Sonar School , Key West , and conducted antisubmarine warfare exercises during her first 2½ years of service . 1950s . " Hammerberg " departed Newport 3 September 1957 to participate in maneuvers with units of NATO . Antisubmarine training in the Irish Sea was followed by visits to Plymouth , England and Brest , France , before the destroyer escort returned to Newport 21 October . Then , after hunter - killer exercises with aircraft carrier , " Hammerberg " sailed from Newport 1 April 1958 to Bodø , Norway , to take part in combined exercises with the Royal Norwegian Navy . She returned to Boston 14 May . During August and September 1958 , the " Hammerberg " was part of " Navy Task Force 88 " ( TF - 88 ) , during Operation Argus , which was involved in conducting nuclear tests in the very high atmosphere . Departing Newport 27 January 1959 , " Hammerberg " sailed to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training , then took part in antisubmarine warfare training with the navies of Chile and Peru . She returned to Newport 21 April . 1960s , including Cuban Missile Crisis . Between May 1959 and February 1960 , " Hammerberg " was busy with antisubmarine exercises interspersed with cruises to Newfoundland and Puerto Rico . In March and April , she participated in Amphibious operations at Onslow Beach , N . C . , and deployed 23 August 1960 for her second South American cruise . " Hammerberg " returned to Newport 13 December . " Hammerberg " departed Newport 7 August 1961 on her third South American cruise . In November , at the request of the Organization of American States ( OAS ) , " Hammerberg " and other American ships patrolled offshore the Dominican Republic to help ensure the orderly change over of that government and check Communist influence . " Hammerberg " returned to Newport 1 December . During 1962 , " Hammerberg " participated in convoy escort operations and operated with the Fleet Sonar School in Key West . On 7 November , " Hammerberg " was en route south to NS Mayport , Fla . , where she was diverted to patrol the Florida Coast during the Cuban missile crisis . On 29 November , after President John F . Kennedy had resolved the Cuban Crisis , she sailed for Newport , R . I . , for a well - deserved rest and tender availability . 1963 found " Hammerberg " in the Boston Naval Shipyard . From June to November , she devoted time to " Unites IV " — a deployment which was to comprise the circumnavigation of South America in the conduct Of ASW operations with seven South American navies . On 30 November , " Hammerberg " preceded to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , for participation in " PHIBASWEX I - 63 " , a large - scale amphibious , ASW operation with over 30 other units of the Atlantic Fleet . On 17 December , she arrived Newport , R . I . During 1964 , " Hammerberg " participated in Operations " Springboard " , " Canus Silex " , and " Steel Pike " , all exercises to sharpen the ship and crew not only in her important mission of locating and destroying submarine s , but also in patrol , escort , rescue , evacuation , blockade and surveillance assignments . On 8 February 1965 , " Hammerberg " got underway for Northern Europe to join NATO " Match Maker I " Squadron in Exercise " Pilot High " . On 3 May , the squadron left Lisbon for Operation " Pole Star " off Halifax , Nova Scotia . After return to Newport 20 July , " Hammerberg " went into repair at Boston Naval Shipyard . She then trained off Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and in August 1966 rendezvoused with escort , guided missile frigate and submarine off Trinidad to participate in Operation " Unitas VII " through November . Fate . " Hammerberg " was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 14 December 1973 . She was sold for scrapping 14 June 1974 .