USS Franks ( DD - 554 ) USS " Franks " ( DD - 554 ) , a World War II - era " Fletcher " - class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy , was named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master ' s Mate William Joseph Franks . " Franks " was launched 7 December 1942 by Seattle - Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp . , Seattle , Washington ; sponsored by Mrs . Martha F . W . Carr , a cousin of Acting Master ' s Mate Franks ; and commissioned 30 July 1943 , Lieutenant Commander N . A . Lidstone in command . History . " Franks " arrived at Pearl Harbor 25 October 1943 to prepare for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands , for which she sortied 10 November . She screened escort carriers providing air cover for the Tarawa landings , then patrolled off Betio until 27 December , returning then to Pearl Harbor for a brief repair period . The destroyer was underway once more 22 January 1944 with the Southern Attack Force for the invasion of Kwajalein , during which she patrolled against submarines , as well as closing Ebeye Island for reconnaissance and bombardment . Again she replenished at Pearl Harbor , between 18 February and 4 March , then sailed for convoy and patrol duty in the Solomon Islands , arriving at Purvis Bay 15 March . Targets for " Franks " ' reconnaissance and bombardment missions in March and April 1944 included Mussau , north of New Ireland ; Kapingamaringi ; and Bougainville . In May , screening minelayers in Buka Passage , " Franks " and " Haggard " ( DD - 555 ) contacted , attacked , and sank Japanese submarine I - 176 on 16 May . Returning to the central Pacific the next month , " Franks " joined in the preinvasion bombardment of Guam from 12 July , and gave fire support to the assault troops who landed there 21 July . After replenishing at Eniwetok , " Franks " sailed back to the South Pacific to prepare for the invasion of the Palaus , off which she arrived 15 September . She served as screen and fighter - director ship , then covered the occupation of Ulithi 23 September . On 1 October 1944 , " Franks " sailed from Manus , beginning a month and a half of operations in the Philippines screening escort carriers . She took part in the preinvasion strikes on Leyte and the landings there , then fought gallantly to protect the escort carriers in the Battle off Samar phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf , coming under the pounding fire of Japanese battleships 25 October . After replenishing at Manus , she returned to Leyte late in November , and in December joined the fast carrier task force to cover the landings on Mindoro , and to conduct strikes in preparation for the Luzon assault of January 1945 . Still screening the fast carriers , " Franks " took part in strikes on the Japanese home islands on 16 and 17 February 1945 on the eve of the invasion of Iwo Jima , then sailed from Ulithi 14 March for strikes on Kyūshū and the Nansei Shoto in preparation for the Okinawa operation . On 18 March her task force came under heavy enemy air attack , and " Franks " splashed at least one of the attackers , joining in the fire which brought several others down . Joining the battleship group , " Franks " closed the southern coast of Okinawa 24 March for a preinvasion bombardment , which hid the intention to land at Hagushi on the western coast . " Franks " cruised off Okinawa , serving as plane guard for carriers covering the landings 1 April , until 2 April , when she was badly damaged and her commanding officer was fatally injured in a collision with " New Jersey " ( BB - 62 ) . She sailed at once for temporary repairs at Ulithi , from which she departed 13 April for overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard . " Franks " returned to the western Pacific on 17 August 1945 at Eniwetok , and on 3 September rendezvoused with the fast carrier task force for air - sea rescue and weather station duty for flights between Okinawa and Honshū . She entered Tokyo Bay 13 September , and on 1 October sailed for the west coast . " Franks " was placed out of commission in reserve at San Pedro , California 31 May 1946 , and sold for scrapping on 1 August 1973 . Honors . " Franks " received nine battle star s for World War II service .