USS Cushing ( DD - 797 ) USS " Cushing " ( DD - 797 ) was a " Fletcher " - class destroyer of the United States Navy , the fourth Navy ship named for Commander William B . Cushing ( 1842 – 1874 ) , who distinguished himself during the American Civil War . " Cushing " was launched on 30 September 1943 , by Bethlehem Steel Co . , in Staten Island , New York ; she was sponsored by Miss Katherine A . Cushing , a daughter of Commander Cushing . The vessel ' s commissioning was on 17 January 1944 , with Commander Louis F . Volk in command . The " Cushing " was placed into active service twice by the United States Navy , first during World War II ( earning six battle star s ) and next during the Korean War ( earning two additional battle star s ) . During WW II , she participated in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign , the Battle of Angaur , the Philippines campaign , 1944 - 45 , the Battle for Leyte Gulf , pre - invasion strikes on Iwo Jima and Okinawa , the Battle of Okinawa , and finally , strikes on the Tokyo area until the end of the war . For several months after the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender , she served as the harbor entrance control vessel at Sagami Wan for the occupation forces before returning home . During the Korea conflict , " Cushing " served as plane guard and participated in bombardment of North Korea . After the war , she patrolled in the Taiwan Straits , and visited various ports strengthening national ties in the President Dwight D . Eisenhower ' s " People to People " program . " Cushing " was loaned to Brazil in 1961 , and served in the Brazilian Navy as " Paraná " ( D29 ) for twelve years . Service history . World War II . " Cushing " sailed from Norfolk , Virginia on 5 May 1944 , for training at Naval Stations San Diego and Pearl Harbor , then escorted a convoy to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands , before returning to Naval Station Bremerton , Washington for an upgrade to her anti - submarine equipment . She joined the 5th Fleet at Eniwetok on 24 August 1944 to sortie for the invasion of the Palau Islands . She screened the Aircraft carrier s during their strikes on Mindanao , Samar , Cebu , and Negros in the Philippines , then supported the ground forces in the Battle of Angaur on 17 September 1944 . She returned to the carriers ' screen for raids on Formosa ( now Taiwan ) , Manila , and northern Luzon . These efforts neutralized Japan ese bases for the scheduled invasion of the Philippines , and resulted in the rescue of numerous downed aviators . Her anti - aircraft fire accounted for at least one Japanese plane during the heavy air attacks of 24 October in the epic Battle for Leyte Gulf . She returned to replenish at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands on 22 November 1944 . Sortieing with the Fast Carrier Task Force ( then 3rd Fleet ' s TF 38 , later 5th Fleet ' s TF 58 ) on 10 December 1944 for air strikes on Luzon , " Cushing " weathered the typhoon of 18 December 1944 , and rescued survivors of less fortunate ships before returning to Ulithi on 24 December for storm repairs . She re - joined the task force on 1 January 1945 for air strikes on Formosa , Indo - China , China coast , and the Philippines until 28 January 1945 . Joining TF 58 for the strikes on the Japanese home islands , " Cushing " served as radar picket ship at the launching point and successfully directed the destruction of many Japanese aircraft trying to break through to attack the carriers . She screened the carriers for the pre - invasion strikes on Iwo Jima and Okinawa , and participated in " softening - up " bombardment of Okinawa . Serving as radar picket ship during the Battle of Okinawa , she provided fighter direction which accounted for many Japanese aircraft . After replenishing at Leyte in June , she rejoined the carriers for strikes on the Tokyo area until the end of the war . Anchoring in Sagami Wan on 27 August 1945 , she served as harbor entrance control vessel for the occupation forces until sailing for home . " Cushing " returned home to Bremerton on 20 November 1945 , and was placed out of commission , in reserve , at Long Beach on 3 February 1947 . Approx 20 – 23 December 1944 , Cushing operated independently while rescuing some downed aviators . There were two notable incidents during this period . First there was the Betty , a twin - engined Japanese bomber . The Cushing lobbed some VT rounds at her , about ( max range ) to the west . The Betty , apparently damaged , came towards her , fishtailing to avoid heavy anti - aircraft artillery , when she was downed just off the stern of the " Cushing " , caused most likely by her rounds . It was possibly an early attempt at suicide attack . There was also a torpedo fired at the Cushing from a submarine , but it was detected by Sonar so that Cushing could turn and avoid . 1951 – 1960 . Recommissioned on 17 August 1951 , " Cushing " sailed from Long Beach on 15 November and arrived at Norfolk on 30 November to join the Atlantic Fleet . She conducted exercises in the North Atlantic and in the Caribbean , and cleared Norfolk on 7 January 1953 to join TF 77 off Korea for duty as plane guard . On 2 and 3 June she fired in the bombardment of Hodo Pando , North Korea . She visited Manila , Singapore , Colombo , Aden , Piraeus , Genoa , Cannes , and Algiers , before returning to Norfolk on 22 August from this cruise around the world . She cruised the east coast in anti - submarine exercises and reserve training , and in 1954 sailed to the Mediterranean for duty . Transferred to the Pacific Fleet , she arrived at Long Beach on 26 January 1955 . In tours of duty in the Far East in 1955 , 1956 , 1957 – 58 , and 1959 – 60 " Cushing " served as plane guard and joined in hunter - killer exercises with TF 77 , patrolled in the Taiwan Straits , and visited various ports strengthening national ties in the President Dwight D . Eisenhower ' s " People to People " program . While " stateside " she operated along the west coast in anti - submarine and anti - aircraft warfare exercises , and midshipmen and reserve training . " Cushing " s home port was changed to Charleston , South Carolina , in October 1960 , and the destroyer sailed to the east coast . " Cushing " was again placed out of commission , in reserve , at Norfolk , Va . , on 8 November 1960 . NAE " Paraná " ( D29 ) . " Cushing " was loaned to Brazil 20 July 1961 . She served in the Brazilian Navy as " Paraná " ( D29 ) . " Paraná " was struck on 1 August 1973 , and broken up for scrap in February 1982 . Awards . " Cushing " received six battle star s for World War II service and two for Korean War service .