USS Riddle ( DE - 185 ) USS " Riddle " ( DE - 185 ) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II . She served in the Pacific Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys . She returned home at war ' s end with a record - setting twelve battle stars , more battle stars than any other destroyer escort in World War II . She was named after Joseph Riddle , Jr . , who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross . The ship was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co . , Newark , New Jersey , on 29 July 1943 ; launched on 17 October 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Anna B . Riddle ; and commissioned on 17 November 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Roland H . Cramer , USNR , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . Following shakedown off Bermuda , " Riddle " sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal , arriving on 1 February 1944 . On 10 February she got underway as an escort vessel with Task Unit 16 . 11 . 6 , bound for the Marshall Islands . Upon arrival she conducted anti - submarine patrols in the Roi Namur - Kwajalein - Majuro Atoll area until steaming for Pearl Harbor on 15 March . Attack on Japanese submarine I - 10 . After serving as an escort to Majuro Atoll and Manus Island and back , " Riddle " was active in the Marshall and Marianas Islands in June 1944 . On 4 July , while screening fueling operations with task group TG 50 . 17 , with , she successfully attacked the submerged . " Riddle " continued screening operations in the Marshall - Marianas area until 1 September when she anchored at Manus Island . On 4 October she got underway as part of an escort group to screen the sortie of task unit TU 38 . 8 . 16 , a carrier and fueling group , from Seeadler Harbor for the Philippine Islands invasion . " Riddle " returned to Manus after the task unit was on its way , and operated in the Admiralty and western Caroline area until early January 1945 . On 14 January 1945 she arrived at Leyte Gulf , Philippine Islands , after which she returned to the Marianas and western Carolines on routine screening and patrol duties . Supporting Iwo Jima operations . " Riddle " operated in the Iwo Jima area in February 1945 , acting as anti - aircraft and anti - submarine patrol as well as escorting various fleet units in their operations in that bloody battle area . On the 5th of March , she anchored at Saipan and the following day sailed for Leyte Gulf in company with . After remaining in San Pedro Bay , Leyte Gulf , until 18 March , " Riddle " got underway as part of the escort group for task unit TU 51 . 7 . 1 , en route to Kerama Retto , Okinawa . Attacked by Kamikaze planes . Upon arrival at Kerama Retto on 26 March 1945 , " Riddle " operated with various screening units , patrol sections , and retirement groups in those waters . 12 April found the vessel off Okinawa on a patrolling station , with task force TF 51 , under enemy attack . Two Japanese kamikaze s attacked " Riddle " . The first was shot down , just clearing the ship , and the second crashed into the ship killing one man and causing considerable damage . After transfer of wounded and repair to her battle damage at Kerama Retto , " Riddle " got underway on 16 April as an escort to Saipan . Supporting the Philippine Islands invasion . " Riddle " arrived at Okinawa once more on 1 May 1945 , and assumed patrol and escort duties there until 15 June when she got underway for Leyte Gulf . She arrived on 18 June and anchored there in San Pedro Bay , until 1 July . From 2 to 4 July , she participated in firing exercises with and on the 5th got underway as escort for en route to Guam and Hawaii , arriving Pearl Harbor on 19 July . Post - War decommissioning . " Riddle " proceeded on to San Pedro , California , for overhaul which lasted through the end of hostilities . On 13 November , " Riddle " got underway for the Panama Canal and arrived Norfolk , Virginia , on the 29th . On 31 December 1945 she reported to Commander , Florida Group , U . S . 16th Fleet , for inactivation , and decommissioned on 8 June 1946 . " Riddle " was transferred to France on 12 August 1950 under the Military Assistance Program and was struck from the Navy List on 26 September 1950 . The destroyer escort served in the French Navy as Kabyle until broken up in 1959 . Awards . " Riddle " earned 12 battle stars for World War II service .