USS Crosby ( DD - 164 ) USS " Crosby " ( DD – 164 ) was a " Wickes " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II , later reclassified as APD - 17 . She was named for Admiral Peirce Crosby . " Crosby " was launched 28 September 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , Quincy , Massachusetts , sponsored by Mrs . C . Tittman ; commissioned 24 January 1919 , Lieutenant Commander Fred Thomas Berry in command ; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet . Service history . " Crosby " joined in exercises in Guantanamo Bay until sailing for Trepassey Bay , Newfoundland in May 1919 , to serve as plane guard during the historic flight of Navy seaplane s , the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic . On 1 July 1919 , " Crosby " was assigned to the Pacific Fleet , and a week later she sailed from New York for San Diego , arriving 7 August . She visited Portland , Oregon , and Seattle , Washington , then was placed in reserve status with reduced complement at San Diego 30 January 1920 . She continued in reserve and was decommissioned 7 June 1922 . World War II . Recommissioned 18 December 1939 , " Crosby " sailed on Neutrality Patrol out of San Pedro from 1 April 1940 . On 1 July 1940 , she was assigned to the 11th Naval District Defense Forces , and after a reserve training cruise resumed her patrols and provided services to Destroyer Base , San Diego for the training of destroyer crews . With the entry of the United States into the war , " Crosby " continued to patrol the waters of the 11th Naval District and to escort convoys locally until 1 February 1943 when she entered Mare Island Navy Yard for conversion to a high - speed transport . She was reclassified APD - 17 , 22 February 1943 . Clearing San Francisco 27 February 1943 , " Crosby " sailed by way of Pearl Harbor , Samoa , Viti Levu , and Noumea to Espiritu Santo , arriving 27 March for training exercises with the 4th Marines . Beginning the distinguished active service which was to bring her a Navy Unit Commendation , " Crosby " cleared 29 April for Guadalcanal as a transport screen . She made two similar voyages until 6 June , and then reported for patrol and escort duty in the Solomons . " Crosby " effectively aided in the consolidation of the Solomons , landing troops on New Georgia between 30 June and 5 July ; on the Treasury Islands under heavy gunfire on 27 October ; and on Bougainville on 6 and 17 November . She sailed 21 November for overhaul at Brisbane , Australia , returning to Milne Bay , New Guinea , 12 December . She trained Army and Marine personnel in amphibious landings , then landed troops at Cape Gloucester , New Britain , between 24 and 29 December 1943 and at Dekays Bay , New Guinea on 2 January 1944 . Clearing Milne Bay 6 January 1944 , " Crosby " escorted convoys from Espiritu Santo to the Solomon Islands through January , remaining in the Solomons on antisubmarine patrol and screening duty . She landed troops on Green Island from 15 to 20 February and on Emirau Island on 20 March . Returning to the New Guinea operations 6 April , she landed troops at Aitape on 22 and 26 April ; escorted convoys to Hollandia ; participated in the invasion of Biak Island on 27 May ; and served as flagship for landing craft in Humboldt Bay from 31 May to 6 July . Following a brief overhaul at Manus , she landed troops on Cape Sansapor on 30 July , then sailed to Sydney , Australia , for replenishment and repairs . She returned to Humboldt Bay on 30 August and landed troops on Morotai 15 September to complete her operations in the New Guinea area . " Crosby " put out from Humboldt Bay 12 October 1944 and put men of the 6th Rangers ashore on Suluan Island , Leyte , 17 October , for a reconnaissance mission . In preparation for the invasion landings , she landed troops on Dinagat Island , at the opening of Leyte Gulf on 19 and 20 October . Reloading troops at Humboldt Bay , she landed them in Ormoc Bay 7 December . She recovered the survivors of which was sunk by American gunfire after severe damage from Japanese " kamikaze s " . " Crosby " participated in the landings on Mindoro 15 December and again returned to Humboldt Bay for additional men . After landing her troops at Lingayen Gulf on 11 January 1945 , " Crosby " continued to support the Luzon landings , landing men successfully at Nasugbu on 31 January ; Mariveles on 15 February ; and Corregidor on 17 February . On 25 February she cleared for Ulithi and an overhaul . " Crosby " arrived at Okinawa 18 April and for hazardous antisubmarine patrol and radar picket duty , narrowly escaping damage from a suicide plane 13 May . She stood out for San Francisco 18 May and arrived 19 June . Overage and badly battered from her long and strenuous service , it was considered unfeasible to repair her . " Crosby " was decommissioned 28 September 1945 and sold 23 May 1946 , to Boston Metals Co . , Baltimore Maryland . Awards . In addition to her Navy Unit Commendation , " Crosby " earned 10 battle star s for World War II service . As of 2004 , no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name .