USS Dennis ( DE - 405 ) USS " Dennis " ( DE - 405 ) was a World War II " John C . Butler " - class destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy . " Dennis " was named after Radioman Third Class Otis Lee Dennis . He was killed in action 1 February 1942 with Carleton Thayer Fogg ( namesake of USS " Fogg " ) when their SBD Dauntless was lost during an attack launched by USS " Enterprise " on Roi - Namur , Kwajalein . It was one of the first offensive operations following Pearl Harbor . " Dennis " was launched on 4 December 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding , in Houston , Texas ; sponsored by Mrs . J . L . Dennis , mother of the late Radioman Third Class Dennis ; and commissioned on 20 March 1944 , with Lieutenant Commander Sigurd Hansen , USNR , in command . " Dennis " differed from most ships in her class in that she had a quadruple mount and a twin mount of 40 mm Bofors guns instead of two twin mounts . This represented a 50 % increase in medium anti - aircraft guns . History . " Dennis " arrived at Pearl Harbor on 19 June 1944 to escort a convoy to Eniwetok and Kwajalein . She returned to Eniwetok on 29 July screening ( CVL - 24 ) . Joining the 5th Fleet , she escorted Carrier Division 22 to Manus for exercises , then sortied with Task Force 77 on 10 September to supply air support for the landings on Morotai Island 15 September through 27 September . From 12 October " Dennis " screened the escort carrier s supplying the air cover for the invasion of Leyte . On 25 October she joined her carriers in making history as they fought a gallant action with the Japan ese counter - attacking force in the Battle off Samar phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf . " Dennis " was positioned alone as the final destroyer escort between the screen of destroyers and destroyers escorts and the escort carriers being shielded . " Dennis " was credited with torpedoing and sinking a Japanese heavy cruiser in that action . " Dennis " rescued 434 survivors from the bombed ( CVE - 63 ) . For this action she shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to TU 77 . 4 . 3 , " Taffy 3 " . Arriving at Kossol Roads , Palaus , on 28 October , she sailed 3 days later for the west coast , arriving at San Francisco , California on 26 November for an overhaul . Returning to the forward area " Dennis " departed Guam on 16 February 1945 for the invasion of Iwo Jima , patrolling off the island until 8 March when she sailed to escort a convoy to Ulithi . On 21 March she proceeded to join a carrier group launching air strikes in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa . She remained with the carriers as they gave close support to the invasion forces ashore . Again she performed rescue services , on 4 May , saving 88 of the crew of ( CVE - 26 ) , a kamikaze victim . She served on radar picket duty at Ulithi from 9 May to 3 June , then returned to Okinawa to join the Third Fleet for strikes against the Japanese mainland until 26 June . From 30 June 1945 until the end of the war , " Dennis " escorted convoys among Ulithi , Okinawa , the Philippines , and New Guinea . After the war she escorted landing craft to Okinawa , then departed Leyte Gulf on 14 October for the west coast , arriving at San Diego , California , on 6 November . She was placed out of commission in reserve there 31 May 1946 . Honors . In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation , " Dennis " received four battle star s for World War II service .