USS Massey ( DD - 778 ) USS " Massey " ( DD - 778 ) , an , is a United States Navy ship that served between 1944 and 1973 . Background . This is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Lieutenant Commander Lance Edward Massey , who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in aerial combat as leader of a group of nine torpedo planes in action against enemy Japanese surface vessels at Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands , on 1 February 1942 . During the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942 , Massey , commanding Torpedo Squadron 3 , repeated this achievement as he led his squadron against Japanese naval units despite " intense antiaircraft fire and overwhelming fighter opposition . " His squadron , bolstered by " his courageous initiative and self ‑ sacrificing gallantry " , pressed home their attack and effected two direct hits on two enemy aircraft carriers . Massey , his plane shot down during the battle , was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his courage , gallantry , and leadership during this decisive encounter . " Massey " ( DD - 778 ) was laid down 14 January 1944 by Todd ‑ Pacific Shipyards , Inc . , Seattle , Washington ; launched 12 September 1944 sponsored by Mrs . Lance E . Massey , widow of Lieutenant Commander Massey ; and commissioned 24 November 1944 , Commander Charles W . Aldrich in command . World War II . " Massey " departed Bremerton , Washington , 13 February 1945 en route to her first war assignment . Screening escort carriers , she steamed to Tulagi for exercises in preparation for the Okinawa campaign . By 21 March she was at the Ulithi staging area and on 1 April she stood off Okinawa , protecting the escort carriers giving aerial support to the assault troops . For the next month she continued to operate with the carriers , switching to radar picket duty in May . Before leaving Okinawan waters 24 June , " Massey ' s " guns had splashed nine kamikazes . " Massey " then sailed to San Pedro Bay , Philippine Islands , returning to Okinawa 16 July . She soon departed Buckner Bay to begin an antishipping sweep in the East China Sea , concentrating her efforts near the mouth of the Yangtze River . With the cessation of hostilities in mid ‑ August , the destroyer returned to Okinawa and was assigned to air ‑ sea rescue work until 22 September . She then served as courier ship between Wakayama and Yokosuka . Korea . In December " Massey " departed for the United States , arriving San Diego 21 December . Reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet , she proceeded to the east coast , arriving New York 16 January 1946 . Until the outbreak of hostilities in Korea , 25 June 1950 , " Massey " operated primarily in the Atlantic . Her assignments included midshipmen summer training cruises , her 1946 summer cruise being followed by an official visit to Chile , and hunter - killer team exercises for the Operational Development Force . Twice during this period , 21 July to 19 November 1947 and 1 June to 3 October 1948 , she deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean . In September 1950 , " Massey " was again ordered to the Pacific . She departed the east coast on the 6th , arriving Yokosuka a month later . On 14 October she joined the Advanced Force , U . N . Fleet , then engaged in minesweeping operations off the northeast coast of Korea . " Massey " patrolled the area in blockade and fire support activities , returning regularly to Wonsan , Hungnam , and Songjin , for most of her Korean tour . In December she bombarded enemy troop and transportation concentrations in the Hungnam area while U . N . forces were evacuating that port . She kept up her protective cover from the 15th through the completion of the operation on the 24th . She then turned her guns on the port facilities , thoroughly demolishing them . In February 1951 the destroyer sailed to the west coast of Korea for blockade and bombardment in support of U . N . troops in the Inchon ‑ Seoul area . On 11 March she returned to the east coast and once again patrolled the North Korean coast , training her guns on personnel and communications centers . " Massey " returned to her home port , Norfolk , 2 July 1951 and resumed operations in the Atlantic . In April 1953 she departed for the Joint Antisubmarine School at Derry , Northern Ireland , and , following ASW operations with Royal Navy units , continued on to the Mediterranean for a 6 ‑ month deployment with the 6th Fleet . During this deployment she joined the carrier " Franklin D . Roosevelt " in providing medical and material aid to earthquake victims on Cephalonia , one of the Greek Ionian islands . She returned to the United States in October and was briefly assigned to Pensacola , Florida , for plane guard duties . She reentered Hampton Roads in time for Christmas and resumed antisubmarine activities . " Massey " spent the next 6 years operating with the Atlantic Fleet . She conducted various exercises and type training off the east coast and in the Caribbean , and made annual deployments to the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet and NATO forces . In 1957 she sailed to northern Europe and the North Sea for operations with NATO , in lieu of a Mediterranean cruise . In December 1959 , after 15 years of destroyer service , she entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where she underwent modernization ( FRAM ) . Four years later , in April 1963 , she put into Boston for further modernization , receiving this time a Drone Antisubmarine Helicopter deck . Following these yard periods she resumed her hunter - killer exercises in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean . Vietnam . " Massey " was ordered to the Pacific for the second time , in January 1966 . Departing Newport , Rhode Island , on the 19th , she transited the Panama Canal and headed into the Pacific . On 28 February she arrived at Kaosiung , Taiwan , commencing operations in the South China Sea the following week . The destroyer cruised off the coast of Vietnam , providing gunfire support for ground forces and rescue service for carriers , as well as performing picket duty assignments , until departing Tonkin Gulf 3 July for Subic Bay , Philippine Islands . From the Philippines , she steamed for home via the Suez Canal . She arrived at Newport 17 August having circumnavigated the world . On 28 September she entered the Naval Shipyard at Boston for repairs . Back in top shape early in 1967 , " Massey " operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean , until departing Newport 2 May for the Mediterranean . The destroyer reached Gibraltar on the 11th and operated with the 6th Fleet for the next 4 months . Steaming to the eastern Mediterranean she relieved destroyer in towing " Atlantis " to Rhodes after the sloop had been damaged in a collision with a merchant tanker . USS " Liberty " incident . Arab - Israeli tensions had then become explosive . After fighting had erupted , word arrived 8 June that Israeli gunboats and aircraft had attacked and damaged technical research ship . " Massey " and immediately headed toward the stricken ship at flank speed . En route doctors , corpsmen , and emergency medical supplies were transferred from aircraft carrier to the two destroyers . Early the next morning they went alongside " Liberty " to render aid . That afternoon , as " Davis " accompanied " Liberty " to Malta , " Massey " screened " America " as TG 60 . 1 steamed through the troubled waters of the eastern Mediterranean . As the situation in the Middle East eased and open war between Israel and the Arab States ceased , the destroyer steamed to Crete , arriving Suda Bay 15 June . Massey continued operations with the 6th Fleet until departing Rota , Spain , 12 September for home , arriving Newport on the 21st . End of career . The destroyer operated along the Atlantic coast until returning to the Mediterranean in April 1968 . Operating with the 6th Fleet until September , Massey arrived back at Newport and operated off the east coast into 1969 . In 1969 , Massey became a Naval Reserve training ship and operated in that role along the U . S . East Coast and in the Caribbean until she decommissioned and stricken from the register on 17 September 1973 . She was sold 13 November 1974 and broken up for scrap . " Massey " received two battle star s for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean service .