USS Whipple ( DD - 15 ) The first USS " Whipple " ( DD - 15 ) was a in the United States Navy , named for Abraham Whipple . She was laid down on 13 November 1899 at Sparrows Point , Maryland , by the Maryland Steel Company ; launched on 15 August 1901 ; sponsored by Miss Elsie Pope ; and commissioned on 17 February 1903 , Lieutenant Jehu V . Chase in command . Pre - World War I . After training in Chesapeake Bay , " Whipple " was assigned to the 2nd Torpedo Flotilla , Atlantic Fleet , and was based at Norfolk . The destroyer periodically served as flagship of the flotilla and operated off the east coast and in the Caribbean until she was placed in reserve at Norfolk on 5 September 1905 . Returning to active service on 16 July 1906 , the ship conducted tactical exercises and routine training operations through November 1907 , apart from taking part in relief operations after the 1907 Kingston earthquake in Jamaica . On 2 December , " Whipple " stood out of Hampton Roads and headed south toward the Caribbean for goodwill visits — " showing the flag . " Subsequently following in the wake of the 16 battleships of the " Great White Fleet " , " Whipple " and her flotilla - mates called at Rio de Janeiro ; rounded Cape Horn for ports on the Chilean and Peruvian coasts ; and conducted target practice at Magdalena Bay , Mexico . After participating in a fleet review at San Francisco on 8 May 1908 , " Whipple " remained on the west coast , based at San Diego , as a unit of the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla . Departing San Francisco at the end of a towline on 24 August , the destroyer subsequently took part in fleet battle problems in Hawaiian waters . Upon completion of the exercises , she steamed back to the west coast via Samoa and Magdalena Bay , Baja California , before arriving at San Diego on 1 December . For the next six years , the destroyer operated off the west coast between San Diego and Magdalena Bay and made one cruise to Alaskan waters for maneuvers . The ship received the Mexican Service Medal for service off the Mexican coast in 1914 and 1916 . While that country suffered in the throes of revolution and civil strife , the destroyer conducted patrols and stood ready to protect American lives and property . World War I . On 6 April 1917 , America entered World War I on the side of Britain , France , and Italy . " Whipple " soon commenced patrols off the approaches to the vital Panama Canal before departing the Panama Canal Zone on 5 July . Refitted for " distant service " , the destroyer put to sea on 28 August , bound for the Atlantic war zone , and put into the Azores on 17 September . " Whipple " operated on escort duties , convoying ships to and from the strategic islands for the next three months . She then received orders to report at Brest , France . Anti - submarine patrols and convoy escort duties occupied " Whipple " through the early spring of 1918 . On 17 April , munition ship " Florence H . " blew up off Quiberon Bay . Braving flying debris from the exploding ship , " Whipple " joined and in rescuing 32 men of the 77 - man crew of that doomed vessel . " Whipple " carried out her routine wartime patrol duties through the end of hostilities . On 9 December , the destroyer departed the French coast and headed homeward , touching at the Azores and Bermuda before making port at Philadelphia on 3 January 1919 . The destroyer was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 7 July , and her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September . On 3 January 1920 , Joseph G . Hitner , of Philadelphia , purchased the ship for scrapping .