USS Falgout ( DE - 324 ) USS " Falgout " ( DE - 324 ) was an Edsall - class destroyer escort built for the U . S . Navy during World War II . She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys . Post - war , she was borrowed by the U . S . Coast Guard and also served as a radar picket ship on the Distant Early Warning Line . She was named in honor of Seaman Second Class George Irvin Falgout , who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously . During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 12 November 1942 he remained at his gun , blazing away at a Japanese aircraft until it crashed his station , killing him . " Falgout ( DE - 324 ) " was launched 24 July 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp , Ltd . , Orange , Texas ; sponsored by Mrs . H . J . Guidry , sister of " Seaman Second Class Falgout " ; and commissioned 15 November 1943 , Lieutenant Commander H . A . Meyer , USCG , in command . She was reclassified DER - 324 on 28 October 1954 . World War II North Atlantic operations . While bound for shakedown at Bermuda , on 4 December 1943 " Falgout " rescued eleven survivors of the torpedo ed tanker from a lifeboat . Completing her shakedown , she began Atlantic convoy escort duty out of Norfolk , Virginia , and New York to North Africa n ports , making eight such voyages between 3 February 1944 and 2 June 1945 . Under Attack by Luftwaffe Aircraft . On 20 April 1944 , in the Mediterranean , her convoy came under heavy attack by German aircraft . Before the concentrated antiaircraft fire of " Falgout " and the other escorts could drive them off , they blew up an ammunition ship , sank a destroyer , and damaged several of the merchantmen . With the other escorts picking up survivors or escorting the damaged ships into the nearest port , Algiers , " Falgout " screened the convoy on to its original destination , Bizerte . Under Attack by Submarines . The homeward bound passage of this same voyage was also a difficult one ; on 3 May , one of the escorts was torpedoed and had to put into Algiers for repairs . Two of the other escorts sank the submarine which had crippled their sister , but on 5 May , another of the escort was torpedoed , and sank . " Falgout " and the remaining escorts brought the convoy safely home , not a merchantman lost . On her third convoy voyage , while Gibraltar - bound in the Mediterranean , " Falgout " took prisoner from the sea four downed German aviators . End - of - War Activity . " Falgout " arrived at Balboa , Panama Canal Zone , 25 June 1945 , where she remained until 13 December , making good will visits to Nicaragua and Costa Rica , joining in defense problems , and training submarines . She returned to Charleston , South Carolina , 18 December , and on 9 February 1946 arrived at Green Cove Springs , Florida , where she was placed in commission in reserve 9 May 1946 , and out of commission in reserve 18 April 1947 . On Loan to the Coast Guard . " Falgout " was on loan to the U . S . Coast Guard between 24 August 1951 and 21 May 1954 , in commission , as WDE 424 , and commanded by CDR G . L . Rollins , USCG for duty as an ocean station vessel out of Tacoma , Washington . Conversion to Radar Picket Ship . Upon her return to the Navy , she was converted to a radar picket escort vessel , and was recommissioned 30 June 1955 , Lieutenant Commander Walter P . Smiley in command . After shakedown , she arrived at Seattle , Washington , 20 November for duty with the Continental Air Defense Command . Her primary mission was to serve as radar picket in the Early Warning System , and from Seattle , she served regular cycles of duty at sea on picket station under the helmsmanship of Robert J . Lydon . This vital mission was interrupted only for necessary overhauls and refresher training following them . Final Decommissioning . From 19 March 1959 to 26 June 1969 , " Falgout " was based at Pearl Harbor , continuing her protection of the United States through service on the Pacific Barrier . From 1966 to 1969 Falgout served in Operation Market Time , Republic of Viet Nam . She was decommissioned at Mare Island , Vallejo , California on 10 October 1969 and struck from the Navy List on 1 June 1975 . On 12 January 1977 she was sunk as target off California . Awards . " Falgout " received one battle star for World War II service .