USS Alexander J . Luke ( DE - 577 ) USS " Alexander J . Luke " ( DE / DER - 577 ) , a of the United States Navy , was named in honor of Sergeant Alexander J . Luke ( 1916 – 1942 ) , who was killed in action during the attack on Tulagi on 6 August 1942 . He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star . Commissioning and Shakedown . " Alexander J . Luke " was laid down on 5 November 1943 by the Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard , Hingham , Massachusetts ; launched on 28 December 1943 ; sponsored by Catherine B . Luke , mother of Sgt . Luke ; and commissioned on 19 February 1944 , Lieutenant Commander Herbert A . Peterson in command . Service History . While returning to Boston on 2 March , the destroyer escort ran aground and suffered minor damage . After a period of drydocking for repairs , she got underway on 16 April for a shakedown cruise to Bermuda and returned to Boston on 15 May for post - shakedown availability . 1944 . The ship reported to Norfolk , Virginia , in early June and began conducting exercises as a training ship for precommissioning details . On 13 July , " Alexander J . Luke " sailed as a unit of Escort Division 66 in company with a convoy bound for Bizerte , Tunisia . The ship returned to the Virginia Capes area on 27 August . Following an availability period and training exercises at Boston and Casco Bay , Maine , " Alexander J . Luke " joined Task Group 62 . 7 for another voyage to the Mediterranean . She sailed with a convoy to Algeria on 27 September and returned to Boston on 4 November . Upon arriving in Boston , " Alexander J . Luke " entered drydock . She got underway on 23 November for a period of anti - submarine warfare exercises and tactical maneuvers conducted at Casco Bay ; NS Argentia , Newfoundland ; Halifax , Nova Scotia ; and New London , Connecticut . 1945 . On 21 March 1945 , the ship returned to convoy duty , sailing for Great Britain . She made port calls at Derry , Northern Ireland ; Liverpool and Falmouth , England ; and Loch Alsh , Scotland . Having completed this mission , she reported to the Brown Shipbuilding Corp . , Houston , Texas , on 22 June for conversion to a radar picket escort ship . The yard work was completed on 7 December , and the ship received the new designation DER - 577 1946 . " Alexander J . Luke " departed Houston on 8 January 1946 . She headed to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , for shakedown and refresher training . On 1 February , the destroyer escort sailed to Casco Bay for further training and inspections . She reported to Norfolk on 17 February and began preparations for rejoining the active fleet . In late March , the destroyer escort was involved in maneuvers with the escort carrier . On 17 April , she steamed from Hampton Roads for spring maneuvers in the Caribbean and arrived in Trinidad on the 24th . In early May , " Alexander J . Luke " planeguarded . She later took part in landing exercises at Culebra Island , Puerto Rico . The vessel departed the Caribbean and arrived in New York City on 26 May . " Alexander J . Luke " remained in New York through 10 June , then shifted operations to Casco Bay . From 1 to 26 July , the destroyer escort was in availability . Following this , the ship remained dockside and was used for training personnel . On 6 September , she moved to the New York Naval Shipyard for hull repairs . 1947 . The destroyer escort sailed on 7 January 1947 for Norfolk . She joined the carrier and her screen and sailed on 18 January for Guantanamo Bay . Upon their arrival , the ships began three weeks of hunter / killer exercises . On 10 February , " Alexander J . Luke " touched back at Norfolk . She continued her routine of anti - submarine warfare exercises and tactical maneuvers held along the East Coast through 18 October 1947 . On that date , " Alexander J . Luke " was placed out of commission , in reserve , at Charleston , South Carolina . Re - designation and disposition . " Alexander J . Luke " was re - designated DE - 577 in August 1954 . The ship was never modernized , and an inspection found her unfit for further service . " Alexander J . Luke " was struck from the Navy List on 1 May 1970 and was expended as a target off Newport , RI , on 22 October 1970 .