USS Dorsey ( DD - 117 ) USS " Dorsey " ( DD – 117 ) , reclassified DMS - 1 on 19 November 1940 , was a " Wickes " class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I . She was named for John Dorsey . " Dorsey " was launched 9 April 1918 by William Cramp & Sons , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; sponsored by Mrs . A . Means , distant relative of Midshipman Dorsey ; and commissioned 16 September 1918 , Commander G . F . Neal in command . Service history . " Dorsey " sailed with a merchant convoy from Philadelphia 20 September 1918 , escorted it to Ireland , and returned to New York 19 October . Between 28 October and 20 November , she voyaged on escort duty to the Azores , then operated locally out of New York until 13 January 1919 when she got underway for target practice and fleet maneuvers in Cuban waters , returning 2 March . Three days later she sailed to escort with President Woodrow Wilson embarked as far as the Azores , returning to Guantánamo Bay 21 March to join the Fleet for maneuvers . " Dorsey " sailed from Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , 9 April 1919 , and arrived at Valletta , Malta , 26 April to report to Commander , Adriatic Squadron , for duty in the execution of the terms of the armistice with Austria . She served in the Mediterranean until 9 July when she proceeded to New York arriving on the 21st . " Dorsey " sailed from New York with her division 17 September 1919 for the west coast , arriving at San Diego 12 October . She joined in fleet maneuvers in the Panama Canal Zone and operated with seaplanes at Valparaíso , Chile , until clearing San Diego 25 June 1921 to join the Asiatic Fleet . " Dorsey " arrived at Cavite , Philippine Islands , 24 August 1921 , and served in experimental submarine practice and long - range battle and torpedo practice . On 3 June 1922 , she sailed from Manila to call at Shanghai and Chefoo , China , Nagasaki , Japan , and Pearl Harbor on her passage to San Francisco where she arrived 2 October . She was placed out of commission at San Diego 9 March 1923 . Recommissioned 1 March 1930 , " Dorsey " operated on the west coast , in the Canal Zone , and in the Hawaiian Islands acting as plane guard for carriers and participating in tactical maneuvers with the fleet . In reserve from 10 June to 29 June 1935 , she then entered Mare Island Navy Yard for the installation of gear for her new assignment as a high - speed towing vessel . " Dorsey " continued to operate from San Diego providing high - speed target towing for ships in training along the west coast , in the Canal Zone , and , between 29 December 1938 and 25 April 1939 , in the Caribbean . From 3 July 1940 she was based at Pearl Harbor . She entered Pearl Harbor Navy Yard 6 November for conversion to a high - speed minesweeper and was reclassified DMS - 1 on 19 November 1940 . World War II . When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 , " Dorsey " was at sea with TF 3 bound for Johnson Island . The force returned to its base on the 9th , and " Dorsey " was assigned to the Hawaiian Sea Frontier for patrol , local escort , and training duty . Except for overhaul at San Francisco from 1 January to 11 February 1943 , she remained on this duty until 24 September 1943 . After scouting convoys to Efate , New Hebrides , and Noumea , New Caledonia , " Dorsey " sailed to the Solomon Islands for patrol and minesweeping operations . She swept and patrolled off Cape Torokina , Bougainville , and screened transports during the landings of 1 November , returning on 8 November and 13 November with reinforcement and supply convoys . She escorted from her base at Port Purvis to Neoumea until 29 March 1944 , then screened transports between Port Purvis , Kwajalein , Manus , and New Georgia until arriving at Majuro 12 May for duty towing targets at high speed for ships in training . From 20 June to 9 July she guarded convoys between Kwajalein and Eniwetok , then escorted to Pearl Harbor , and proceeded to San Francisco for overhaul . Returning to Pearl Harbor 1 October 1944 , " Dorsey " had towing duty and joined in minesweeping experiments until 9 November when she got underway as convoy escort for Port Purvis . On 1 December , she arrived at Manus for minesweeping operations until 23 December . Continuing to San Pedro Bay , Leyte , " Dorsey " sortied on 2 January 1945 for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf . During the preinvasion minesweeping she accounted for several attacking planes and rescued five survivors from stricken . " Dorsey " arrived off Iwo Jima for preinvasion mine - sweeping 16 February 1945 . She patrolled during the assault landings , and towed to safety 18 February . She sailed from Iwo Jima 1 March for Ulithi to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa , where she arrived 25 March to sweep mines . On the 27th she was struck a glancing blow by a " kamikaze " which killed three of her crew and wounded two . " Dorsey " remained on duty , screening assault shipping during the landings of 1 April and patrolling until the 4th when she departed for Pearl Harbor and battle damage repairs . Returning to Okinawa 1 July 1945 , " Dorsey " joined the minesweeping unit operating in conjunction with the 3rd Fleet raids on the Japanese home islands . She sailed on 14 September for minesweeping operations in the Van Diemen Straits , returning to Okinawa five days later . On 9 October , she was grounded by a severe typhoon . Decommissioned 8 December 1945 , her battered hulk was destroyed 1 January 1946 . Awards . " Dorsey " received six battle star s for World War II service . As of 2004 , no other ships in the United States Navy have gone by this name . John Dorsey . John Dorsey ( about 1780 - 7 August 1804 ) was an officer in the United States Navy during the First Barbary War . Born in Maryland , Dorsey was appointed midshipman 28 April 1801 . He was killed 7 August 1804 in the attack on Tripoli in north Africa when " Gunboat No . 9 " was blown up by an enemy shell . In his honour , the USS Dorsey was named after him . Notable Appearances in Media . " Dorsey " made a cameo appearance in the 1934 Spencer Tracy film " Marie Galante " .