USS Mitchell ( DE - 43 ) USS " Mitchell " ( DE - 43 ) was an constructed for the United States Navy during World War II . She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft . She performed escort and anti - submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and sailed home proudly displaying nine battle stars , a very high number for a ship of her type . She was originally laid down as BDE - 43 on 12 January 1943 by the Puget Sound Navy Yard for transfer to Great Britain upon completion . However , she was ordered retained for service in the U . S . Navy . She was reclassified DE - 43 on 16 June ; named " Mitchell " on 23 June ; launched on 1 August 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Albert E . Mitchell , widow of Ensign Mitchell ; and commissioned on 17 November 1943 , Lieutenant Commander M . S . Erdahl in command . On 13 May 1944 , Lieutenant Commander James Carpenter assumed command ; he was captain until decommissioning on 29 December 1945 . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After shakedown and training off San Diego , California , " Mitchell " sailed on 2 February 1944 as part of the escort of a convoy of eight liberty ships sailing to Hawaii . Arriving Pearl Harbor on 10 February , " Mitchell " spent the next four months operating with American submarines in Task Force 16 , Service Force Pacific Fleet . These maneuvers were a valuable training aid to both " Mitchell " and the submarines . Collision With a Whale . On 3 June " Mitchell " sailed for the Pacific war zone in Task Group 16 . 6 . In the following six months she sailed out of Kwajalein , Eniwetok , Seeadler Harbor ( Admiralties ) , and Ulithi , screening underway replenishment operations , guarding harbor entrances , and destroying floating enemy mines . On 3 December she struck a whale , seriously damaging her underwater sound equipment and forcing her to retire to Ulithi for repairs in floating drydock auxiliary repair dock . Supporting Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations . " Mitchell " was soon back in action ; on 21 February 1945 her deck log reported : " Steaming toward rendezvous point southeast of Iwo Jima . " As U . S . Marines landed on Okinawa under cover of naval gunfire , " Mitchell " performed escort and patrol missions . A few weeks later she was a screening vessel in Rear Admiral W . D . Sample ' s Task Group 78 . 4 which attacked and occupied Balikpapan , Borneo , on 6 July 1945 . End - of - War operations . As part of Task Group 30 . 8 , she then helped to protect convoys supplying the occupation of Japan during the months of August and September 1945 . On 5 September " Mitchell " briefly joined American ships in Tokyo Harbor . She weighed anchor on the 18th for the United States via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor , arriving San Francisco on 8 October . Post - War Inactivation and Decommissioning . Her last time underway as a commissioned naval vessel was on 6 November when she moved to Kaiser ' s Victory Yard , Richmond , California . " Mitchell " was decommissioned there and struck from the Navy List on 29 December 1945 . She was sold for scrapping and delivered to the purchaser , Puget Sound Navigation Co . , Seattle , Washington , on 11 December 1946 . Honors and awards . " Mitchell " received nine battle stars for World War II service .