USS Parker ( DD - 604 ) USS " Parker " ( DD - 604 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the second ship named for Foxhall A . Parker , Jr . . " Parker " was laid down 9 June 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation , Staten Island , New York ; launched 12 May 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs . Edward Lloyd Winder ; and commissioned 31 August 1942 , Commander John W . Bays in command . 1942 - 1943 . After her shakedown cruise along the East Coast and in Cuban waters , " Parker " served as a convoy escort to North Africa , participating in the attack on Mehedia and Port Lyautey 7 November 1942 . Following her return to the Atlantic Coast , " Parker " escorted convoys to North African ports on five occasions . On the fourth , she supported the Sicilian invasion 5 – 13 July 1943 . Convoy escort duty to the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean Sea followed . On 6 November , when 30 planes attacked her convoy , " Parker " shot one down . 1944 , including Operation Anvil . From 7 February to 2 April 1944 , the ship trained near Casco Bay , Maine , and from 3 to 11 April was on submarine patrol with Task Unit 27 . 6 . 1 . On 21 April " Parker " departed New York for the Mediterranean arriving at Mers - el - Kebir , Algeria 2 May . From 12 to 15 May she steamed to Naples . The ship operated between the Anzio beachhead and Naples from 17 May to 4 June , bombarding the shore in the Ardea sector 31 May – 1 June . From 13 June to 9 August , " Parker " operated from Leghorn to Palermo ( Sicily ) bombarding positions on the shore and escorting convoys . From 13 August to 17 August " Parker " took part in the invasion of southern France delivering shore bombardment and anti - aircraft fire support . She then escorted a convoy from Cap Camarat , France to Naples arriving 21 August . On 31 August , with Destroyer Squadron 16 , she departed Naples for home via Mers - el - Kebir , Algeria and arrived New York 14 September . 1945 , including transfer to Pacific . After repairs at Charlestown , Massachusetts , and training at Casco Bay , " Parker " arrived Norfolk , Virginia 11 November . Two days later she sailed for the Mediterranean . Arriving Naples 26 November , she departed 1 December escorting a convoy back to New York . On 6 January 1945 " Parker " departed Norfolk with Task Group 62 . 1 screening a convoy to Oran , Algeria 17 January . In ensuing weeks she operated in the Mediterranean and patrolled off Gibraltar . In March she supported Allied forces on the Franco - Italian and western Italian fronts operating out of Cannes and Toulon , France . " Parker " bombarded enemy positions ashore on 4 , 6 , 11 , 12 , and 20 March . She continued Mediterranean operations until sailing for the United States , arriving New York 23 May . Following training at Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , " Parker " proceeded to the West Coast and departed San Diego 29 July for Hawaii , arriving Pearl Harbor 4 August . On 17 August , the ship departed Pearl Harbor for Okinawa , arriving 4 September . She departed Okinawa 8 September as an escort to a convoy proceeding to Korea , arriving Jinsen 15 September and reaching Okinawa 17 September 1945 . Fate . After returning home , " Parker " decommissioned 31 January 1947 , entered the U . S . Atlantic Reserve Fleet ; and was berthed at Charleston , South Carolina . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1971 and sold for scrap in 1973 . Awards . " Parker " received four battle star s for World War II service .