USS Whitman ( DE - 24 ) USS Whitman ( DE - 24 ) was an constructed for the United States Navy during World War II . It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft . By the end of the war , when she returned to the United States , she had proudly accumulated four battle star s . She was laid down on 7 September 1942 at the Mare Island Navy Yard , Vallejo , California , and was initially earmarked for transfer to the Royal Navy under lend - lease . However , the U . S . Navy decided to retain the ship for its own use ; and she was reclassified to DE - 24 on 7 January 1943 . She was launched on 19 January 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Josephine P . Whitman , the widow of Lt . ( jg . ) Whitman ; and commissioned at Mare Island on 3 July 1943 , Lt . Carl E . Bull in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After shakedown out of San Diego , California , and post - shakedown availability , " Whitman " departed San Francisco , California , on 11 September , escorting Convoy 2298 , bound for the Hawaiian Islands . Nine days later , she arrived at Pearl Harbor and safely delivered her charges . She then convoyed the seaplane tender to Canton and Phoenix Islands in early October before she was detached to return to Pearl Harbor . Supporting the invasion of the Gilbert Islands . In November , she moved to the Central Pacific for her first major operation , the thrust against the Japanese held Gilbert Islands . With the Commander , Escort Division 10 embarked as concurrent Commander , Task Group ( TG ) 57 . 7 , " Whitman " patrolled off the entrance to Tarawa lagoon and performed local escort missions into December 1943 . Supporting invasion of the Marshall Islands . Returning , via Funafuti in the Ellice Islands , to Hawaii , " Whitman " underwent engine repairs at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in January 1944 , before she participated in the invasion and occupation of the Marshalls , escorting a group of tankers ( designated as Task Unit ( TU ) 53 . 8 . 3 ) to Majuro on D plus four day . The destroyer escort subsequently performed several convoy escort missions between Hawaii and the Marshalls and then steamed to the west coast in March for a major overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard . She returned to Pearl Harbor on 10 May . " Whitman " departed the Hawaiian Islands on 27 May to escort TU 16 . 6 . 4 , a Service Force unit , to the forward areas . The tanker group to which " Whitman " was attached fueled some of the ships of the Fleet participating in the Marianas operation that June . The destroyer escort subsequently performed local escort missions in the Marshalls before heading back to Pearl Harbor in the autumn . A wide variety of assignments . After returning to Hawaiian waters , " Whitman " operated with the U . S . Pacific Fleet submarines out of Pearl Harbor from October 1944 to May 1945 , providing target services to the submariners ' training program . In addition , whenever a shortage of escort vessels came up , ships such as " Whitman " were summoned to provide a variety of services , including anti - submarine patrols and plane - guarding . While engaged in the latter on 23 February 1945 , " Whitman " rescued Lt . ( jg . ) Ward J . Taylor after he had made a forced landing while the destroyer escort was plane - guarding for . " Whitman " performed her service speedily and brought Taylor safely on board only five minutes after the accident occurred . After that stint in Hawaiian waters , the destroyer escort was assigned to TG 96 . 3 in June 1945 and performed patrol and escort missions to Eniwetok , Johnston Island , Kwajalein , and Ulithi through the summer of 1945 . Post - War operations . On 10 August , the day upon which the Japanese indicated a desire to surrender unconditionally to the Allies , " Whitman " departed Eniwetok with Convoy EU - 172 , bound for Ulithi . She was en route from Ulithi to Eniwetok with Convoy UE - 123 when the Japanese capitulated five days later . She was at Eniwetok when the formal surrender was signed on board in Tokyo Bay . Departing Kwajalein for the last time on 14 September , " Whitman " sailed for Pearl Harbor and arrived there on the 20th . Her stay was brief , however , for she got underway for the west coast the next day . Post - War decommissioning . Making port at San Pedro , California , on 27 September , " Whitman " was decommissioned on 1 November and struck from the Navy List on the 16th . Sold to the National Metal and Steel Co . of Terminal Island , California , and delivered on 31 January 1947 , the ship was scrapped on 20 March 1948 .