USS Richard E . Kraus ( DD - 849 ) USS " Richard E . Kraus " ( DD - 849 / AG - 151 ) was a of the United States Navy , named for Marine Private First Class Richard E . Kraus ( 1925 – 1944 ) , who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his " conspicuous gallantry " during the Battle of Peleliu . " Richard E . Kraus " was laid down by Bath Iron Works , Bath , Maine , on 31 July 1945 ; launched on 2 March 1946 ; sponsored by Mrs . Edwin Olsen ; and commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 23 May 1946 , Commander R . J . Oliver in command . Service history . 1946 – 1965 . Following shakedown off Boston , " Richard E . Kraus " reported to Commander , Operational Test and Evaluation Force , at Norfolk , Virginia . Engaged in ordnance development during her first six years , " Kraus " earned the title of one of the " Shootingest Ships " in the fleet . In 1947 , the after 40 mm gun mount was removed and the first shipboard 3 " / 50 caliber gun mount was installed for tests . In 1948 " Richard E . Kraus " assisted in the development tests of the RIM - 2 Terrier surface to air ( SAM ) missile . " Kraus " was subsequently involved in the evaluation of electronic equipment including radar and communication gear . In addition she conducted tests on anchors , tow cables , and underwater explosives . Reclassified AG - 151 on 25 August 1949 , " Richard E . Kraus " was designated DD - 849 again on 11 January 1954 . In May 1954 " Richard E . Kraus " participated in the large - scale antisubmarine warfare ( ASW ) development exercise . She trained at Guantanamo Bay in 1955 , 1958 , and 1960 . In 1961 she operated with Task Group Bravo , one of the Navy ' s major anti - submarine groups , and in that year also represented the United States in ceremonies at St . Eustatius , Netherlands Antilles , commemorating the first salute to the U . S . flag by a foreign country . In October and November 1962 , " Richard E . Kraus " served with the U . S . quarantine forces in the Cuban Missile Crisis , preventing the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba . On 1 January 1963 " Kraus " left her Destroyer Squadron 2 ( DesRon 2 ) . In March and April she operated with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean , then between June 1963 and May 1964 underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization ( FRAM ) I overhaul and conversion at the Boston Naval Shipyard . On 18 May 1964 the " new " destroyer , now equipped with ASROC and DASH , left the shipyard and steamed for her new homeport , Newport , R . I . After training along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean , the destroyer deployed on 27 November 1964 for operations with the 6th Fleet and the Middle East Force . Operating primarily in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean , " Richard E . Kraus " added merchant ship assistance and good will visits to East African ports to her destroyer duties . Returning to Newport on 13 March 1965 , " Kraus " conducted ASW exercises and was part of the Gemini 6 Recovery Force , serving on station off western Africa until that mission was canceled . 1966 – 1976 . Deploying to WestPac in early 1966 , " Richard E . Kraus " operated off Vietnam with Task Group 77 . 7 ( TG 77 . 7 ) in the Tonkin Gulf , with TG 77 . 6 on " Yankee " and " Dixie " Stations , and provided gunfire support off South Vietnam until steaming home by way of the Suez Canal , arriving at Newport on 17 August 1966 . She operated off the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean until May 1967 when she deployed to the Mediterranean . During the 6 - day Arab - Israeli War , she operated out of Suda Bay , Crete . Back at Newport in late September , she assisted in extinguishing a fire in the after engine room of in November . Through the remainder of 1967 " Richard E . Kraus " operated off the Atlantic coast . 16 Feb 1968 entered Boston Naval Shipyard for an overhaul and updating of sonar . Upon completion 23 June Homeport transferred to Charleston , S . C . . July through September performed post - overhaul exercises in Guantanamo . November 1968 departed for the Indian Ocean , crossing the Equator 09 Nov stopping at Recife , Brazil before sailing across to Africa , she rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean visiting Red Sea and Persian Gulf ports where she remained until returning to Charleston in April . " Richard E . Kraus " operated off the east coast of the United States through July 1970 , visiting Cape Kennedy , Norfolk , where she joined the NATO fleet STANAVFORLANT before hitting New York City and the city of Montreal in Canada . She transited the St . Lawrence Seaway on 28 July en route to Europe via Nova Scotia , Newfoundland and Iceland . She cruised the North Sea area until 10 December , visiting Scotland , Denmark , Norway , the Netherlands , and Belgium . She arrived at Charleston , S . C . , on 19 December , after short stops at Ponta Delgada in the Azores and Bermuda , B . C . C . " Kraus " remained in the Charleston area through September 1971 , undergoing regular overhaul and post - overhaul tests and exercises . On the 23rd , she steamed out of Charleston , headed for the Indian Ocean . After stopping at Puerto Rico ; Recife , Brazil ; Luanda , Angola ; and Lourenço Marques , Mozambique , she arrived at Majunga , Madagascar , on 30 October and was officially transferred to COMIDEASTFOR . " Richard E . Kraus " remained with COMIDEASTFOR , circuiting the Indian Ocean , until 12 February 1972 . On her way home , she visited several ports in Africa and arrived in Charleston on 11 March , where she immediately went into a 30 - day stand down period . After six months of operations out of Charleston , she embarked on 1 November upon another major deployment , this time with the 7th Fleet in the $ 3 . Stopping at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , Rodman in the Panama Canal Zone ; Pearl Harbor , Hawaii ; and Midway Island , she made Yokosuka , Japan , on 29 November . She cruised with the Seventh Fleet , often just off the coast of Vietnam , through March 1973 . At that time " Kraus " was ordered back to Charleston and operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean . ROKS " Kwang Ju " ( DD - 921 ) . The destroyer remained in service until decommissioned on 1 July 1976 , struck from the U . S . Naval Vessel Register the same day and officially transferred to the Republic of Korea through the Security Assistance Program on 23 February 1977 . The warship served as ROKS " Kwang Ju " ( DD - 921 ) in the South Korean navy until retired on 29 December 2000 . Awards . " Richard E . Kraus " received two battle star s for Vietnam War service .