USS Bainbridge ( DD - 246 ) The third USS " Bainbridge " ( DD - 246 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was named for Commodore William Bainbridge , who served in the War of 1812 and the First and Second Barbary War s . History . " Bainbridge " was launched 12 June 1920 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation , Camden , New Jersey ; sponsored by Miss Juliet Edith Greene , great great - granddaughter of Commodore Bainbridge ; commissioned 9 February 1921 , Lieutenant Commander E . L . Thebaud in command ; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet . " Bainbridge " operated along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean with the fleet carrying out tactical exercises and maneuvers until October 1922 , when she departed for Constantinople to join the Naval Detachment in Turkish waters . On 16 December 1922 she rescued approximately 500 survivors of the burning French military transport " Vinh - Long " about 10 miles off Constantinople . For extraordinary heroism during the rescue Lieutenant Commander Walter A . Edwards received the Medal of Honor . The next year , at Newport , Rhode Island , she served temporarily as flagship of Commander , Scouting Fleet and then joined Squadron 14 Scouting Fleet , in the Atlantic . Between 1923 and 1928 " Bainbridge " participated in annual fleet concentrations , tactical and joint maneuvers , and fleet and type competitions . In 1927 she was assigned temporary duty with the Special Service Squadron for patrol duty off Nicaragua during internal disturbances there . During several summers " Bainbridge " participated in the training program of the Scouting Fleet , making summer cruises with reservists . On 23 December 1930 she was placed out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . On 9 March 1932 " Bainbridge " was placed in reduced commission and attached to Rotating Reserve Division 19 , taking part in Naval Reserve training cruises . She was placed in full commission 5 September 1933 and assigned to Destroyer Division 8 , Scouting Force . For a short period she served with the Special Service Squadron in the Florida Keys and Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and was later assigned to the Pacific , arriving at San Diego , California 5 November 1934 . While serving on the west coast " Bainbridge " made cruises to British Columbia , Alaska , and Hawaii . She was placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 20 November 1937 . Recommissioned 26 September 1939 " Bainbridge " was as signed to Division 62 and operated on the Neutrality Patrol in the Panama Canal Zone until the summer of 1940 when she reported to Key West , Florida , for patrol duty . During the early part of 1941 she cruised along the northeast coast and between May and November 1941 made three convoy escort voyages to Newfoundland and Iceland . World War II . Between December 1941 and July 1945 " Bainbridge " operated as a convoy escort in the waters off the east and Gulf coasts and in the Caribbean with the exception of five trans - Atlantic escort crossings to North Africa ( February – December 1943 ) . Disposal . Commencing her inactivation 1 July 1945 , " Bainbridge " was decommissioned 21 July 1945 at Philadelphia and sold 30 November 1945 . " Bainbridge " received one battle star for her service as a convoy escort ( 13 June – August 1943 ) .