USS Nicholas ( DD - 311 ) USS " Nicholas " ( DD - 311 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I . She was the first Navy ship named for Samuel Nicholas ( 1744 – 1790 ) , the first Commandant of the United States Marine Corps . History . " Nicholas " was laid down 11 January 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , San Francisco , California ; launched 1 May 1919 ; sponsored by Miss Edith Barry ; and commissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard 23 November 1920 , Lieutenant Commander Herndon B . Kelly in command . Assigned to Reserve Destroyer Divisions , Pacific Fleet , " Nicholas " departed Mare Island on 17 December 1920 for San Diego , California , arriving on the 20th and remaining principally in that area with a reduced complement through 1922 . The destroyer sailed on 6 February 1923 as part of Destroyer Squadron 11 for combined fleet operations in the Panama Canal Zone . Arriving Balboa twenty days later following exercises en route , the warship engaged in tactical and strategic maneuvers through the end of March and returned to San Diego on 11 April . From 25 June to 31 August , " Nicholas " and DesRon 11 cruised the coast of Washington , putting in at Tacoma , Port Angeles , and Seattle and serving as escort to President Warren G . Harding in " Henderson " on his arrival at Seattle on 27 July . She then participated in squadron maneuvers through the end of August with Battleship Division 3 , putting in at San Francisco on the 31st . " Nicholas " sailed for her homeport at 08 : 30 , 8 September , in company with most of DesRon 11 under Captain Edward H . Watson , with " Delphy " leading the way . Engaged in a high - speed engineering run down the Pacific Coast , the squadron changed course at 21 : 00 as inaccurate navigation indicated this was the approach to Santa Barbara Channel . At 21 : 05 , " Delphy " stranded on the rocks of Point Pedernales , known to sailors as Honda , or the Devil ’ s Jaw ; though warning signals were sent up by the flagship , the sheltering configuration of the coast line prevented their recognition by the remaining ships of DesRon 11 and in the ensuing confusion , six other destroyers — including " Nicholas " — ran aground also . " Nicholas " ’ skipper , Lt . Cmdr . Herbert Roesch , did his utmost to prevent the loss of the destroyer as the heavy seas broke over her and Honda ’ s rocks pushed into her hull , but the ship was taken by currents and drifted slowly astern , coming to a stop stern - high on a clump of rocks with a 25° list to starboard . Throughout the night , the crew attempted to save " Nicholas " but in the morning as the waves mounted and " Nicholas " ’ situation became critical , the Captain ordered “ Abandon Ship ” . The order was accomplished and brought the entire crew ashore safely . Of the seven destroyers ' crews , only 23 lives were lost . Considered out of commission on 26 October 1923 , " Nicholas " was struck from the Navy List with her six squadron mates on 20 November . After a number of abortive bids , the destroyer was finally sold on 19 October 1925 to Robert J . Smith of Oakland , California . Though some equipment was salvaged from the wrecked , ship her hull was left to the mercy of the sea in the “ graveyard of the Pacific . ” The event came to be known as the Honda Point Disaster .