USS Montgomery ( DD - 121 ) USS " Montgomery " ( DD – 121 ) was a " Wickes " class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I , later reclassified DM - 17 . She was the fifth ship named for Major General Richard Montgomery . " Montgomery " was built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company , launched 23 March 1918 ; sponsored by Mrs . Andrew Jones , a descendent of Major General Montgomery ; and commissioned 26 July 1918 , Lieutenant Commander W . R . Purnell in command . Service history . Following an east coast shakedown , " Montgomery " left Hampton Roads 25 August 1918 for her first antisubmarine patrol , alternating such patrols with coastal escort duty until the close of World War I . She conducted training and fleet maneuvers from Maine to Cuba until 19 July 1919 , when she departed Hampton Roads for west coast duty . " Montgomery " arrived at San Diego 7 August to join Destroyer Squadron 4 , Pacific Fleet . For the next 3 1⁄2 years she took part in fleet operations from Alaska to Panama , then on 17 March 1922 began inactivation at San Diego , where she decommissioned 6 June 1922 . Redesignated DM - 17 , 5 January 1931 , " Montgomery " was converted to a light minelayer and recommissioned 20 August 1931 . In December she sailed to Pearl Harbor , her base until 14 June 1937 , when she returned to San Diego , there to decommission 7 December 1937 and go into reserve . World War II . With world tension increasing on the eve of World War II , " Montgomery " reactivated , recommissioning 25 September 1939 . She trained for possible war service and completed several towing assignments on the west coast until 3 December 1940 when she sailed for her new home port , Pearl Harbor . At Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack 7 December 1941 , " Montgomery " immediately began antisubmarine patrols in the approaches to the vital base , as well as interisland convoy duty . Departing Hawaii 11 April 1942 for Suva , Fiji , " Montgomery " began 16 months operating from Suva , Espiritu Santo , and Noumea for escort and minelaying operations in the southwest Pacific , aiding in the struggle for the Solomons . One interruption to this service was 22 September to 12 November , when she sailed north to lay mines in the Aleutians in preparation for the recapture of Attu and Kiska . While laying a minefield off Guadalcanal on the night of 24 to 25 August 1943 , " Montgomery " collided with , losing 20 feet of her bow . She made temporary repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo , then sailed 1 October for San Francisco , arriving 19 October . Repairs completed , " Montgomery " began 10 months of activity which included 2 convoy escort voyages between San Francisco and Hawaii ( 8 December 1943 to 5 February 1944 ) , defensive minelaying around Kwajalein ( 17 March to 4 April ) , convoy escort to Majuro ( May 1944 ) , and local convoy escort in the Hawaiians . " Montgomery " attacked an enemy submarine contact 25 June 1944 without evident result . After an escort voyage to Eniwetok and return ( 28 June to 16 July ) , she sailed for Guadalcanal to prepare for the invasion of the Palaus . Getting underway for the assault 6 September , " Montgomery " took station off Peleliu 12 September to destroy mines swept from the Japanese minefields . On 17 September she screened transports landing assault troops on Angaur , and 2 days later sailed for mine destruction and patrol duties at Ulithi until 14 October . She bombarded Ngulu 15 October and acted as mother ship for small minelayers during the capture of the atoll . While anchored off Ngulu 17 October , with her engines secured , " Montgomery " sighted a mine floating close aboard to port . The wind swung the ship down onto the mine before she could get underway or destroy it . The resulting explosion flooded both enginerooms and one fireroom , ruptured fuel tanks , and killed four of her crew . Salvage efforts kept her afloat until she could be towed to Ulithi for repairs . Underway on her own power 12 January 1945 , " Montgomery " arrived at San Francisco 14 February . There it was recommended that she be decommissioned , which she was 23 April 1945 . " Montgomery " was sold 11 March 1946 . Awards . " Montgomery " received four battle star s for World War II service .