USS Hart ( DD - 594 ) USS " Hart " ( DD - 594 ) , a " Fletcher " - class destroyer , was the second ship of the United States Navy of that name , in honor of Lieutenant Patrick H . Hart ( 1912 – 1942 ) , who posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of Midway . " Hart " , originally designated " Mansfield " and renamed " Hart " 21 March 1944 , was launched 25 September 1944 by Puget Sound Navy Yard ; sponsored by Lieutenant Hart ' s mother , Mrs . Emma Hart ; and commissioned 4 November 1944 , Commander W . D . Coleman in command . Service history . " Hart " conducted her regular shakedown cruise off California and during her training participated in experimental high - speed refueling exercises with . From 12 – 23 December , the destroyer refueled at sea some 50 times under all conditions of sea and weather gaining vital information on how to improve this key wartime operation . Ending her regular shakedown on 31 January 1945 , the ship departed on 19 February for Pearl Harbor . From 27 February to 3 March she escorted in gunnery and aircraft operations , departing for Ulithi on 5 March . Arriving at Ulithi 16 March , " Hart " joined the assembled task forces for the Okinawa operation . From 24 March to 12 April , the ship was assigned as part of the screen for escort carrier s furnishing close air support for the landings and preinvasion neutralization of neighboring Japan ese air strips . Detached on 12 April , she assumed duty as an escort for transports for 2 days and then commenced protective patrol duties during landings near Okinawa . " Hart " was detached from 5th Fleet on 19 April and proceeded to the Philippines to join 7th Fleet for the Borneo landings . She arrived off Brunei Bay on 9 June 1945 and commenced a patrol of the South China Sea to guard against possible interference from the remains of the Japanese Fleet at Singapore . " Hart " also carried out shore bombardment beginning 11 June in support of Australian troops landing at Brunei Bay . On 14 June , she shot down her first Japanese aircraft during an attempted bombing . During the period of 19 – 21 June , she provided close support for further landings on the coast of Borneo near Brunei Bay , and then departed for Balikpapan and other amphibious operations . While there , " Hart " patrolled , provided starshell illumination , and directed minesweeping vessels through the treacherous enemy minefields off the beaches . Australian troops went ashore on 1 July , under cover of fire from " Hart " and other ships ; during the operation " Hart " destroyed two mines and a 75 mm gun emplacement ashore . Temporarily leaving the landing areas , " Hart " was assigned as part of the escort for Major General Douglas MacArthur in , steaming to Manila with the General and then proceeding to Leyte on 5 July . She next moved to Subic Bay for training exercises and escort duty , and after the surrender of Japan on 15 August was assigned to the newly formed North China Force . " Hart " departed on 5 September 1945 to support the landing of Army occupation forces at Jinsen , Korea . The force threaded its way through many mines en route , and after arrival , " Hart " sent boarding parties on board Japanese merchantmen in the harbor for inspection and disarming . This duty completed , " Hart " sailed for China , escorting Cruiser Division 6 in an important show of force off the coast . She continued through the next few months to aid in the landings of American Marines , calling at Port Arthur , Tsingtao , and Taku . The veteran destroyer sailed for the United States 9 February 1946 , decommissioned 31 May 1946 , and was placed in reserve at Long Beach , California . She was later moved to Mare Island Naval Shipyard , and then Stockton , California . " Hart " was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 15 April 1973 , was sold on 3 December 1973 , and broken up for scrap . Awards . " Hart " received two battle star s for her service in World War II .