USS Burke ( DE - 215 ) USS " Burke " ( DE - 215 / APD - 65 ) , a of the United States Navy , was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander John E . Burke ( 1905 – 1942 ) , who was killed in action , aboard the battleship during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 15 November 1942 . " Burke " was laid down on 1 January 1943 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard ; launched on 4 April 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Miriam Katherine Burke , the widow of Lt . Comdr . Burke ; and commissioned on 20 August 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Edwin K . Winn in command . Service history . Atlantic convoys , 1943 – 1944 . Following shakedown off Bermuda , the destroyer escort participated in general type training in late September and October . On 29 October , she joined a convoy bound for Ireland and arrived safely at Derry on 11 November . " Burke " soon returned to New York and made eight more uneventful round - trip transatlantic voyages to escort convoys to Europe or North Africa and back . Pacific Fleet , 1945 . On 25 January 1945 , the warship entered Sullivan ' s Dry Dock and Repair Corp . in Brooklyn , New York , for conversion to a " Charles Lawrence " - class high speed transport . Redesignated APD - 65 , " Burke " left the shipyard on 8 April and was slated for service in the war against Japan . " Burke " transited the Panama Canal and joined the Pacific Fleet on 1 May at Balboa . There , she also embarked officers and sailors for transportation to San Diego and , after reaching southern California , took on board more passengers for passage to Pearl Harbor . The high - speed transport ' s mission was to carry Underwater Demolition Team s ( UDT ' s ) to assault areas for prelanding beach clearance . " Burke " trained with UDT ' s on Maui in preparation for service in the conquest of Okinawa . The fast transport arrived off Okinawa on 27 June after the major part of the struggle to take that island was over . She briefly served on picket duty off Ie Shima , but " Burke " ’ s duty was cut short on 30 June , and she sailed for the Philippines . The high - speed transport trained near Legaspi on southeastern Luzon with other amphibious ships in preparation for the expected invasion of the Japanese home islands . However , the explosion of atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki early in August demonstrated to Japan the futility of continuing the war , so " Burke " never had an opportunity to participate in an assault . She returned to Leyte and was there when the Japanese capitulated on 15 August . " Burke " escorted occupation forces to Japan and , as the formal surrender ceremony took place on board the battleship in Tokyo Bay on 2 September , the transport steamed up the channel and into the bay . " Burke " escorted convoys of occupation troops until 26 October then proceeded to Manila . After transporting men and equipment among the islands of the Philippine archipelago , " Burke " embarked returning veterans and headed for home . Upon arrival at San Diego , the fast transport disembarked her passengers and got underway for the east coast of the United States . Atlantic Fleet , 1946 – 1949 . In January 1946 , " Burke " became the flagship for Transport Division 121 and commenced operations with the Atlantic Fleet . She participated in fleet anti - submarine and amphibious exercises along the east coast and in the West Indies . She also trained UDT ' s and naval reservists . On 16 April 1949 , " Burke " reported to the Charleston Naval Shipyard for inactivation . Decommissioning and transfer . She was placed out of commission , in reserve , on 23 June 1949 and was towed to Green Cove Springs , Florida , to be berthed with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Late in 1967 , " Burke " was selected for sale under the Military Assistance Program to the Republic of Colombia . Her name was struck from the United States Navy List on 1 June 1968 , and she was transferred to the Colombian Navy on 8 December . She was commissioned as ARC " Almirante Brión " ( DT - 07 ) and served until disposed of in 1974 . Awards . " Burke " earned one battle star for her World War II service .