USS Putnam ( DD - 287 ) USS " Putnam " ( DD - 287 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I . She was named for Charles Putnam . History . " Putnam " was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , Squantum , Massachusetts 30 June 1919 , launched 30 September 1919 , sponsored by Miss Katherine Brown ; and commissioned at Boston , Massachusetts 18 December 1919 , Commander Wilbur Riee Van Auken in command . Upon completion of shakedown out of Boston , " Putnam " was assigned to Division 43 , Squadron 3 , Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet based at Newport , Rhode Island . She sailed from Newport 8 February 1920 for Guantanamo Bay where she carried out target practice until 26 April . " Putnam " was later sent to Tampico , Mexico , to join and in observing the volatile political situation there 10 May – 14 June . She made a reservist training cruise between Philadelphia , Pennsylvania and Newport before being placed in reserve at Charleston 22 September . " Putnam " was reassigned to Destroyer Division 49 , Squadron 1 upon returning to active duty 1 May 1921 and took part in summer exercises with the Destroyer Force out of Newport until 16 November . After spending the winter in reserve at Charleston , South Carolina , she was ordered to Destroyer Division 25 Squadron 9 at Newport 27 June 1922 . " Putnam " engaged in gunnery drills at Guantanamo Bay ( 16 April – 25 May 1923 ) before returning to Boston for periodic overhaul . She rejoined her division at Guantanamo Bay 5 April 1924 for maneuvers with Scouting Fleet Destroyers there and later off Hampton Roads until 29 October . " Putnam " rendezvoused with the fleet for torpedo exercises in the Caribbean again 6 January – 10 February 1925 . Following repairs at Boston ( 14 February – 1 July 1925 ) , " Putnam " reported to the Newport Naval Torpedo Station for experimental duty and participated in the search to locate the wreck of on 26 September . She departed Newport 2 October for Gonaïves , Haiti , Guantanamo Bay and the Panama Canal Zone to continue her readiness operations with Scouting Fleet Destroyers . " Putnam " sailed for Boston 20 February 1926 for a refit . Upon completion of repairs at Boston 28 April 1926 , " Putnam " resumed her schedule of experimental torpedo duty at Newport and fleet maneuvers off Haiti until October 1927 . She then proceeded to Charleston for Fleet Problem II ( 30 October – 2 December ) . After exercises off Haiti in January and February , " Putnam " completed three reservists ' training cruises between Philadelphia and Newport ( 30 June – 24 August ) before sailing 31 August for Charleston and depth charge practice . She resumed operations in Panamanian waters 16 January 1929 , participated in Fleet Problem IX , transited and retransmitted the Panama Canal and later engaged in gunnery drills off Haiti before sailing for Boston 27 April . " Putnam " served as a reservists ' training ship for two cruises out of Tompkinsville , New York ( 19 July – 30 August ) . Fate . " Putnam " decommissioned at Philadelphia 21 September 1929 ; was struck from the Navy List 22 October 1930 , sold 17 January 1931 . The ship was converted to the MV " Teapa " that was acquired by the Army in an effort to resupply Corregidor .