USS Coghlan ( DD - 606 ) USS " Coghlan " ( DD - 606 ) was a " Benson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the second ship named for Joseph Bulloch Coghlan . " Coghlan " was launched 12 February 1942 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , San Francisco , California ; sponsored by Mrs . G . Coghlan ; commissioned 10 July 1942 , Lieutenant Commander B . F . Tompkins in command ; and reported to the Pacific Fleet . Service history . " Coghlan " sailed from San Francisco 22 September 1942 for Pearl Harbor and Kodiak , Alaska , arriving 13 October for convoy and patrol duty . She supported Army landings on Amchatka 12 January 1943 , and participated in the bombardment of Gibson Island at the entrance of Chicago Harbor 18 February . On 20 February , she aided in the sinking of a Japanese merchantman . On 15 March she cleared Dutch Harbor with a force to patrol against Japanese shipping south and west of Kiska to prevent reinforcement of Japanese - held Attu . On 26 March , her group turned a larger Japanese force back in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands . In this action , " Coghlan " screened , and laid smoke for . She bombarded Holtz and Chicago harbors 26 April , and with the southern support group covered the landings on Attu from 11 May to 2 June . Overhauled at San Francisco in July , " Coghlan " returned to Adak on 13 August for 2 final weeks on patrol in the Aleutian Islands . " Coghlan " sailed 25 August 1943 for Pearl Harbor , arriving 1 September . After taking part in the raids on Baker and Tarawa Islands from 15 to 17 September and the attack on Wake Island on 5 October , " Coghlan " replenished at Pearl Harbor and sailed on 31 October for escort and screening duties in the assault on the Gilbert Islands . She returned to Pearl Harbor 11 December . " Coghlan " sailed from Pearl Harbor 22 January 1944 to screen aircraft carrier s giving air coverage to the landings in the Marshall Islands . She returned , screening transports , to Pearl Harbor 8 March for overhaul . On her next cruise , from 14 to 22 April , she escorted a carrier to sea on its way to Majuro , returning to Pearl Harbor 22 April . On 24 May , she sailed for Eniwetok , where she joined the screen of landing ships bound for the invasion of Saipan on 15 June . " Coghlan " gave fire support and patrolled off the island until 23 June . After replenishing at Eniwetok , the destroyer returned to Saipan 17 July to support the landings at Tinian 24 July . After offering fire support until the island was secured 1 August , " Coghlan " sailed for a brief overhaul at Pearl Harbor . " Coghlan " arrived at Manus 8 October , and sailed for the operations in the Philippines 6 November . She conducted convoy escort duty from Humboldt Bay and Palau to Leyte , and supported the landings at Ormoc Bay on 7 and 8 December , firing in the heavy " kamikaze " attack on the first day . On 9 January 1945 she entered Lingayen Gulf for patrol and screening operations in support of the landings . She continued to operate in the Philippines until 8 April , when she cleared San Pedro Bay for a stateside overhaul . She returned to Pearl Harbor 22 July , and on 26 August arrived at Okinawa for occupation duty , carrying passengers , mail , and light freight between Okinawa and Japan . On 23 October she sailed for Pearl Harbor , San Diego , and Charleston , South Carolina , where she arrived 2 December . After overhaul and a year of inactivity , " Coghlan " was decommissioned and placed in reserve 31 March 1947 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1971 and sold for scrap in 1974 . Awards . " Coghlan " received eight battle stars for World War II service .