USS John A . Bole ( DD - 755 ) USS " John A . Bole " ( DD - 755 ) , an " Allen M . Sumner " - class destroyer , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Lieutenant Commander John Archibald Bole , Jr . , who was the commanding officer of which is thought to be lost on 16 February 1943 . A " Gearing " - class destroyer " John A . Bole " was renamed on 15 June 1944 prior to being launched 15 February 1945 . " John A . Bole " , was laid down on 20 May 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Co . , Staten Island , New York ; launched on 1 November 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . John A . Bole , Jr . , widow of Lieutenant Commander Bole ; and commissioned on 3 March 1945 , Commander E . B . Billingsley in command . Service history . World War II . Following shakedown training out of Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , " John A . Bole " escorted Uss Franklin north to New York , arriving on 24 April 1945 . After moving to Boston to join , she sailed on 15 May for the Pacific during the final push in the war against Japan . Steaming via the Panama Canal , she arrived Pearl Harbor on 7 June 1945 . The ship joined a carrier group in Hawaiian waters , took part in the air strike on Wake Island on 20 June , and escorted a carrier to Eniwetok , arriving on 21 June . " Bole " arrived Okinawa on 29 June for picket and patrol duty ; and , although ground fighting had virtually ceased , weeks of intermittent air raids and dangerous picket duty were still in store for the fleet . The ship remained off Okinawa until the Japanese acceptance of surrender terms on 15 August , then departed for the East China and Yellow Seas to support the occupation and to take part in minesweeping operations . " Bole " joined a cruiser - destroyer force on 8 September off Jinsen , Korea , to cover the landings of troops at that important port . She remained until 25 September , and arrived 3 days later at Saishu To , south of the Korean Peninsula , to accept the surrender of the island and demilitarize it . The veteran destroyer remained in the Far East after the end of the war to carry mail and passengers between Japan , Korea , and Chinese ports , supporting the efforts of American marines to protect Allied lives and stabilize the Chinese situation . While at Tsingtao on 20 February 1946 , upon receiving a distress signal from a sinking merchantmen , she succeeded in rescuing 13 survivors . " Bole " departed on 5 March for San Francisco and , after stopping at Guam and Pearl Harbor , arrived on 27 March 1946 . Following a long repair period to prepare her for peacetime service , the destroyer arrived San Diego on 10 April 1947 to begin a regular schedule of training maneuvers and cruises for Naval Reservists . She continued to operate on the West Coast , with occasional visits to Hawaii , through 1949 . 1954 - 1966 ( Cold War , Formosa Patrol , Vietnam ) The veteran ship returned to the Far East again in 1954 , taking part in the continuing Formosa Patrol and in amphibious training exercises . She sailed from San Diego 20 April and returned 17 October , adding carrier operations in the South China Sea and antisubmarine warfare exercises off Okinawa to her busy schedule . In 1955 and again in 1956 she spent 6 month periods in these familiar waters , training and showing graphically the value of seapower to the security of the United States and her allies . John A . Bole sailed 29 July 1957 for the Western Pacific , this time visiting Pago Pago ; Auckland , New Zealand ; and Manus en route to Japan . She took part in carrier operations with Bon Homme Richard ( CV - 31 ) and in December again steamed Formosa Strait . The ship returned to San Diego 8 January 1958 and took part in exercises off California until July . John A . Bole again sailed westward 23 August 1958 , this time amid mounting chaos from revolt in Indonesia and growing trouble in southeast Asia . She operated in the Philippines and on Formosa Patrol , helping to stabilize affairs in this strategic region , returning to San Diego 16 February 1959 . The destroyer made still another cruise to the Far East 1959 - 60 , sailing 30 October . She operated with the 7th Fleet ' s hunter - killer force off Okinawa during November and December , arriving Formosa 4 January 1960 for patrol duty . She returned to San Diego 12 March 1960 . In June John A . Bole served as an air - sea rescue station ship for President Eisenhower ' s flight across the Pacific , and during the summer she embarked NROTC Midshipman for training . In October she was assigned to a hunter - killer group built around veteran carrier Kearsarge ( CV - 33 ) ; and , after training , departed 4 March 1961 for the Far East . The ships carried out further training , this time with Canadian ships out of Pearl Harbor , but . with a worsening of the Laos situation , steamed to Subic Bay to bolster Navy strength and deter more serious trouble . Hunter - killer operations continued until September , and John A . Bole returned to California via the northern great - circle route to help gather hydrographic data , arriving her home port 18 September . John A . Bole entered San Francisco Naval Shipyard in late 1961 to undergo a major Fleet - Rehabilitation - and - Modernization ( FRAM II ) overhaul , designed to equip her with the latest equipment and lengthen her active service life several years . Emerging in July 1962 , she took part in training operations for the remainder of the year , interrupted by several weeks of alert at sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October . During the first few months of 1963 , she operated out of San Diego , sailing 1 April 1963 for Pearl Harbor and the Western Pacific . This cruise helped to maintain the vital American presence in the Far East , and she returned to San Diego 3 December 1963 . In the first half of 1964 she was engaged in antisubmarine operations , including tests of her new QH - 50 Drone Anti - Submarine Helicopter ( DASH ) . John A . Bole sailed 23 October 1964 for the Western Pacific with a group composed of Yorktown ( CV - 10 ) and other destroyers . After maneuvers in Hawaiian waters , she reported to Commander 7th Fleet 2 January 1965 to resume peacekeeping operations in the troubled region . During the deployment John A . Bole operated with a carrier task group and an ASW hunter - killer group , then patrolled Taiwan Straits . From 9 to 25 February she operated off Vietnam . Returning to San Diego 24 May , the destroyer entered Hunter ' s Point Naval Shipyard late in June for overhaul and stayed there through the remaining summer . She operated out of San Diego until sailing 22 March 1966 for the Far East . On 18 April she began naval gunfire support duties off Vietnam which continued until she began plane guard patrol at Yankee Station 4 May . On the 8th the destroyer sailed to Japan for repairs but was back at Yankee Station on the 25th . But for brief runs to Hong Kong and Subic , John A . Bole remained in the war zone until 27 July when she headed for Taiwan . She visited Malaysia before heading home via Subic Bay , Guam , and Pearl Harbor , arriving San Diego 24 September . She operated out of home port for the remainder of the year and in 1967 prepared for future action . 1967 - 1970 ( Vietnam ) Bole departed San Diego for a Westpac cruise on 28 December 1967 . Arriving in the Hawaiian Islands on 13 January 1968 , Bole got underway on 14 January and operated in the Hawaiian Operating Areas , conducting training qualifications exercises before departing en route to Yokosuka , Japan on 19 January . On 26 January , news of the capture of USS Pueblo by North Korea was received and Bole was diverted to the Sea of Japan for contingency operations . Bole operated in the Sea of Japan maintaining Surface Action Unit ( SAU ) stations through heavy seas , cold , ice and snow . On 12 February Bole conducted a Search and Rescue ( SAR ) effort to a South Korean fishing vessel in distress . After transferring food and water , Bole took the vessel in tow and proceeded to Po - Hang , South Korea where the tow was transferred to a Republic of Korea ( ROK ) naval vessel on 13 February . Bole then proceeded to plane guard station for USS Yorktown ( CVS - 10 ) en route to Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin . While operating in the Gulf of Tonkin on 25 March , Bole conducted an alongside submarine replenishment ( SUBREP ) for USS Sterlett ( SS - 393 ) . On 30 March , Bole departed the Gulf of Tonkin for its first , 10 day port visit of the deployment and destroyer tender availability with USS Samuel Gompers ( AD - 17 ) in Kaohsiung , Taiwan ( 3 – 13 April ) . On 13 April Bole departed Kaohsiung for II Corps , Republic of Vietnam , arriving 15 April in Qui Nhon harbor and relieved USS Henderson ( DD - 785 ) of Naval Gunfire Support ( NGFS duties ) . Bole conducted NGFS in II Corps through 23 April and departed for Hong Kong . Bole arrived in Hong Kong 25 April for a port visit . Bole departed Hong Kong 30 April for Yankee Station plane guard duties . On 5 May Bole rendezvoused with USS Yorktown ( CVS - 10 ) and assumed plane guard duties . On 6 – 9 May Bole operated with USS Ticonderoga ( CVA - 14 ) for plane guard . From 10 – 13 May Bole conducted plane guard duties for USS Enterprise ( CVAN - 65 ) ; from 13 – 16 May for USS Kitty Hawk ( CVA - 63 ) ; 16 – 19 May for USS Enterprise ( CVAN - 65 ) ; 19 - 120 May for USS Kitty Hawk ( CVA - 63 ) ; and 20 – 24 May for USS Yorktown ( CVS - 10 ) . On 24 May Bole departed the Gulf of Tonkin en route to Singapore , crossing the equator on 28 May and arriving at HMS Royal Dockyard Singapore on 29 May . On 2 June , the ship ’ s mascot , Ensign Chiko , a monkey , joined the crew . On 3 June Bole departed Singapore for II Corps Republic of Vietnam . On 5 June Bole arrived at II Corps and relieved USS Mansfield ( DD - 728 ) of NGFS duties . Bole was relieved of NGFS duties by USS Picking ( DD - 685 ) and detached en route to Sasebo , Japan . On 16 June Bole rendezvoused with USS Yorktown ( CVS - 10 and commenced plane guard duties en route to Sasebo arriving at the US Naval Station on 19 June . On 21 Bole departed Sasebo en route to home port of San Diego arriving there on 5 July and mooring at the US Naval Station completing the Westpac deployment . Bole remained in San Diego , operating in the SOCAL OPAREAS until departing for Hunters Point , San Francisco for a three month Regular Overhaul . Bole remained in the yard until late December , returning to San Diego in time for the holidays . On her last cruise in 1970 , Bole participated with Destroyer Squadron 21 in Naval Gunfire Support operations off the coast of Vietnam and also as a unit of the fast carrier attack group at Yankee Station . The Bole left San Diego for her final Westpac cruise on 5 January 1970 . On 2 February , the Bole joined the USS Ranger ( CVA - 61 ) task group ( TG 77 . 6 ) in the South China Sea . From 6 to 19 February , the Bole conducted plane guard duties and screened the USS Ranger in the Tonkin Gulf at Yankee Station . From 21 to 26 February the Bole visited Hong Kong . From 3 to 15 March the Bole provided naval gunfire support off the coast of South Vietnam . The Boleʼs gunfire support missions were in both NGFS Corp Area I and II ( including numerous missions off the mouth of the Cua Viet River ) . On 16 March , the Bole returned to the Ranger task group at Yankee Station . On 21 March the Ranger group sailed to Sasebo Japan arriving 24 March . The Bole remained in Sasebo until 12 April when she returned to Yankee Station with the Ranger . The Bole remained at Yankee Station until 24 April . From 24 April to 3 May the Bole returned to providing naval gunfire support off the coast of South Vietnam . The Boleʼs gunfire support missions were again in both NGFS Corp Area I and II . From 5 to 12 May the Bole made another port call to Hong Kong . On 15 May , the Bole joined the USS Shangri - La ( CVA - 38 ) task group ( TG77 . 4 ) at Yankee Station . The Bole stayed with the Shangri - La task group until 28 May when she sailed to Subic Bay for her first stop before returning to the United States . On 28 June the Bole returned to her homeport Naval Station San Diego . On 30 July , the Bole moved from the Naval Station San Diego to the San Diego Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility ( NISMF ) for decommissioning preparation . The crew moved off the ship to a nearby berthing barge . On 1 October , the Bole was moved from the NISMF back to the Naval Station San Diego ( Pier 2 ) . On 6 October 1970 ( 1003 Hours ) , the USS John A Bole ( DD - 755 ) was decommissioned at the Naval Station San Diego . The USS John A . Bole ( DD - 755 ) was struck 1 February 1974 . She was transferred to Taiwan 6 May 1974 and cannibalized for spare parts . USS John A . Bole ( DD - 755 ) received one battle star for World War II service and seven for Korean service . She was also the recipient of the Gold A for excellence in Anti - Submarine Warfare . Over her career the Bole was also the recipient of multiple Battle Efficiency Awards , commonly known as the Battle " E . " Korean War . With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 , " John A . Bole " began intensive preparations for combat service . Sailing from San Diego on 30 September , she steamed via Japan to join Task Force 77 off the Korean coast . With the brilliant amphibious assault on Inchon on 15 September , an end run made possible by control of the sea , the tide of the ground war rapidly reversed . The nearly victorious enemy armies far to the south collapsed . " Bole " , exemplifying the flexibility of seapower promptly shifted from amphibious attack to fire support of our advancing troops . She then screened carriers during the vital air operations , helping to support both battle - line air strikes and interdiction of northern supply lines . On 11 April 1951 , " Bole " was stationed near the coast of mainland China , three miles off Swatow ( Shantou ) , China , on the orders of General Douglas MacArthur , in an unsuccessful attempt by him to provoke China into a war with the United States . ( See James Edwin Alexander , " Naval History " : Jan / Feb 1997 , Vol . 11 , Iss . 1 ; pg . 48 , 3 pgs , U . S . Naval Institute Press , Annapolis , MD ) . " Bole " also steamed with support convoys into Inchon before returning to San Diego in mid - June 1951 . The veteran ship was underway again for Korea on 3 January 1952 . Upon arrival she helped maintain the pressure on Communist troops in the stalemated land war by screening carriers during air attacks . " Bole " also took part in shore bombardment along both the east and west coasts of North Korea , operating with British and Dutch ships . The ship moved to the Formosa Straits for patrol duty designed to deter Chinese Communist aggression there , finally returning to San Diego on 11 July 1952 . Following a yard period in which she added 3 - inch rapid fire guns to her armament , " Bole " departed on 21 February 1953 for her third Korean tour . During March she operated off the coast with " Saint Paul " , and sailed on 10 April for the Formosa Straits to resume patrol duty . Then after returning to Korean waters , the destroyer sailed on 1 June to Wonsan harbor for 6 days dueling with shore batteries while protecting the Allied - held offshore islands . She then screened before the Korean armistice on 27 July 1953 , after which she returned to Japan . Escort duty with closed her cruise , and " Bole " arrived San Diego on 22 September 1953 . 1954 - 1967 . The veteran ship returned to the Far East again in 1954 , taking part in the continuing Formosa Patrol and in amphibious training exercises . She sailed from San Diego on 20 April and returned 17 October , adding carrier operations in the South China Sea and antisubmarine warfare exercises off Okinawa to her busy schedule . In 1955 , and again in 1956 , she spent 6 month periods in these familiar waters , training and showing graphically the value of seapower to the security of the United States and her allies . " John A . Bole " sailed on 29 July 1957 for the Western Pacific , this time visiting Pago Pago ; Auckland , New Zealand ; and Manus en route to Japan . She took part in carrier operations with and in December again steamed Formosa Strait . The ship returned to San Diego on 8 January 1958 and took part in exercises off California until July . " Bole " again sailed westward on 23 August 1958 , this time amid mounting chaos from revolt in Indonesia and growing trouble in southeast Asia . She operated in the Philippines and on Formosa Patrol , helping to stabilize affairs in this strategic region , returning to San Diego on 16 February 1959 . The destroyer made still another cruise to the Far East 1959 - 60 , sailing on 30 October . She operated with the 7th Fleet ' s hunter - killer force off Okinawa during November and December , arriving Formosa on 4 January 1960 for patrol duty . She returned to San Diego on 12 March 1960 . In June , " Bole " served as an air - sea rescue station ship for President Eisenhower ' s flight across the Pacific , and during the summer she embarked NROTC Midshipman for training . In October she was assigned to a hunter - killer group built around , and after training , departed on 4 March 1961 for the Far East . The ships carried out further training , this time with Canadian ships out of Pearl Harbor , but with a worsening of the Laos situation , steamed to Subic Bay to bolster Navy strength and deter more serious trouble . Hunter - killer operations continued until September , and " Bole " returned to California via the northern great - circle route to help gather hydrographic data , arriving her home port on 18 September . " Bole " entered San Francisco Naval Shipyard in late 1961 to undergo a major Fleet - Rehabilitation - and - Modernization overhaul , designed to equip her with the latest equipment and lengthen her active service life several years . Emerging in July 1962 , she took part in training operations for the remainder of the year , interrupted by several weeks of alert at sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October . During the first few months of 1963 , she operated out of San Diego , sailing 1 April 1963 for Pearl Harbor and the Western Pacific . This cruise helped to maintain the vital American presence in the Far East , and she returned to San Diego on 3 December 1963 . In the first half of 1964 , she was engaged in antisubmarine operations , including tests of her new DASH . " Bole " sailed 23 October 1964 for the Western Pacific with a group composed of and other destroyers . After maneuvers in Hawaiian waters , she reported to Commander 7th Fleet on 2 January 1965 to resume peacekeeping operations in the troubled region . During the deployment , " Bole " operated with a carrier task group and an ASW hunter - killer group , then patrolled Taiwan Straits . From 9 – 25 February , she operated off Vietnam . Returning to San Diego on 24 May , the destroyer entered Hunter ' s Point Naval Shipyard late in June for overhaul and stayed there through the remaining summer . She operated out of San Diego until sailing on 22 March 1966 for the Far East . On 18 April , she began naval gunfire support duties off Vietnam which continued until she began plane guard patrol at Yankee Station on 4 May . On the 8th , the destroyer sailed to Japan for repairs but was back at Yankee Station on the 25th . But for brief runs to Hong Kong and Subic , " Bole " remained in the war zone until 27 July , when she headed for Taiwan . She visited Malaysia before heading home via Subic Bay , Guam , and Pearl Harbor , arriving San Diego on 24 September . She operated out of home port for the remainder of the year , and in 1967 prepared for future action . Awards . " John A . Bole " received one battle star for World War II service and seven for Korean service . She was also the recipient of the Gold A for excellence in Anti - Submarine Warfare , and her fictionalized crew continue to serve in various Navy training curricula .