USS Hilary P . Jones ( DD - 427 ) USS " Hilary P . Jones " ( DD - 427 ) was a " Benson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Admiral Hilary P . Jones . " Hilary P . Jones " was launched by the Charleston Navy Yard 14 December 1939 ; sponsored by Mrs . Hilary P . Jones , widow of Admiral Jones ; and commissioned 6 September 1940 at Charleston Navy Yard , Lieutenant Commander S . R . Clark in command . World War II Atlantic Service . Following shakedown in the mid Atlantic and exercises off Newport , Rhode Island " Hilary P . Jones " departed 11 December for duty with the Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean . She performed escort duties in those waters until 11 March 1941 , when she returned to Hampton Roads . Training exercises off New England followed until 28 April , when the destroyer departed New York as a convoy escort . She steamed to Newfoundland , and for the next dangerous months before the attack on Pearl Harbor escorted cargo ships and transports in the North Atlantic . During one of these voyages to Iceland , 31 October 1941 , , the first naval vessel to be lost in the war , was torpedoed and sunk . " Jones " rescued 11 survivors of the attack before arriving Reykjavík 3 November . The destroyer continued the hazardous North Atlantic convoy duty after America ' s entry into the war , battling both German submarine s and the elements to bring troops and supplies to the Allies . " Jones " transferred to Mediterranean duty in January 1944 as production of escort vessels and frigate s allowed the larger destroyers to be used for other assignments . The destroyer departed with her squadron 16 January 1944 to screen off Anzio . She alternated at the bitterly contested Anzio beachhead with convoy duty between there and Naples until 20 March , often exchanging fire with German shore batteries off Anzio . After a brief respite the ship returned to her gunfire support duties at Anzio during April and early May , occasionally engaging in escort and antisubmarine patrol operations . With three escort vessels the destroyer detected and attacked U - 516 off Algeria May 1944 , sinking it after a lengthy battle 17 May . During June and July , " Jones " acted as escort ship for Mediterranean convoys and took part in training for the invasion of Southern France . She departed Naples 13 August in convoy with French and British ships for the invasion , arriving 3 days later . The destroyer not only provided gunfire support missions during the assault , but also acted as electronic jamming vessel in the successful attempt to prevent radio - controlled bombs from harassing the area . In the weeks that followed she continued to range up and down the coast in support of the First Airborne Task Force destroying bridges , gun emplacements , railroad facilities and coastal vessels . She was attacked by a German E - boat 21 August , but destroyed the craft with gunfire . For her outstanding record during this period the ship received the Navy Unit Commendation . Detached from her coastal support duties 1 October 1944 , the destroyer continued convoy duties in the Mediterranean until returning to New York 12 January 1945 . Following overhaul and training off Casco Bay , Maine , she sailed with her last transatlantic convoy 26 February – 9 April 1945 . " Jones " was then designated for Pacific Fleet , and departed New York 24 April for the Panama Canal Zone and Pearl Harbor . Pacific Service . Operating at Pearl Harbor from 18 May 1945 , until 2 June , she then sailed for the advance base at Ulithi . Upon her arrival 13 June " Jones " joined the surface patrol forces in the Caroline Islands , making occasional escort voyages to Okinawa . At Ulithi when Japan surrendered , she steamed 18 August to Okinawa , Subic Bay , and then Tokyo . As an escort unit for 8th Army occupation troops , she entered Tokyo Bay 2 September as the surrender document was being executed onboard . Subsequently , she made two more voyages with occupation groups to Japan before ending her long war service and departed for the United States 5 November . Post World War II , Loan to ROC Navy and fate . " Jones " sailed to Charleston Navy Yard via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal and decommissioned there 6 February 1947 . She was placed in the Charleston Group , Atlantic Reserve Fleet . She was loaned to the Republic of China under the Military Assistance Program 26 February 1954 . She served the Nationalist Chinese Navy as " HanYan " ( DD - 15 ) . She was stricken on 1 November 1974 and broken up for scrap . Awards . " Hilary P . Jones " received four battle star s for World War II service , in addition to her Navy Unit Commendation . As of 2006 , no other ship in the United States Navy has been named " Hilary P . Jones " .