USS Flusser ( DD - 368 ) The fourth USS " Flusser " ( DD - 368 ) was a " Mahan " - class destroyer in the United States Navy before and during World War II . She was named for Charles W . Flusser . History . " Flusser " was launched 28 September 1935 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , Kearny , New Jersey ; sponsored by Mrs . F . W . Packard ; and commissioned 1 October 1936 , Commander F . L . Lowe in command . " Flusser " sailed from New York 1 December 1936 for a shakedown cruise which found her operating with Squadron 40 - T , a unit formed to protect American interests in the Western Mediterranean during the Spanish Civil War . She returned to Hampton Roads 9 February 1937 , and for the next 5 months operated along the east coast as far north as Maine . On 16 July , she arrived at San Diego , California , her base for $ 3 and Caribbean operations until October 1939 , aside from a 2 - week visit to Washington earlier that year . World War II . Based at Pearl Harbor , she took part in intensive training operations with ships of all types , and on 5 December 1941 put to sea screening " Lexington " ( CV - 2 ) . Thus away from base at the time of the Japan ese attack on Pearl Harbor , " Flusser ' s " force sought the retiring Japanese after the attack , then returned to their devastated home port 12 December . Through April 1942 , " Flusser " sailed on convoy escort duty between Pearl Harbor and the west coast , and then cleared for Palmyra Atoll , where on 21 April she landed a small marine garrison . Continuing on , she began a period of escort and patrol service out of various southwest Pacific ports , on several occasions putting in to Australian ports . Overhauled at Pearl Harbor between July 1942 and February 1943 , " Flusser " returned to escort , antisubmarine , and training operations in the southern Solomon Islands . After replenishing at Pearl Harbor between 25 July and 4 August 1942 , " Flusser " returned to Efate 17 August to resume escort and patrol operations to the Fiji Islands , Espiritu Santo , Samoa , and Tonga , returning to Pearl Harbor for overhaul between September and February 1943 . Once more at Espiritu Santo 17 February , " Flusser " again escorted convoys of auxiliaries as well as warships among southwest Pacific bases , to and from Australia , and to Guadalcanal . She returned from Australia to Milne Bay 22 August , and based here for the New Guinea operation . Participating in the landings at Lae and Finschhafen , she conducted preinvasion bombardment , gave fire support cover to the assaults , escorted reinforcement and re - supply convoys , and on 22 September , attacked and sank three Japanese barges at Finschhafen . " Flusser " next participated in the bombardment and landing at Arawe , New Britain , and had similar duty in the occupation of Cape Gloucester and Saidor . 1944 - 1945 . From 11 January 1944 to 30 January , " Flusser " had a brief overhaul ; she then took part in exercises in Australian waters , returning to Milne Bay for duty escorting convoys to Saidor and Cape Gloucester , and taking part in the landings on Los Negros , Admiralty Islands . Her constant activity in the New Guinea area made a west coast overhaul imperative , and she received this at Mare Island between April and June . Departing Pearl Harbor 1 August 1944 , " Flusser " escorted a convoy to Eniwetok , and arrived at Majuro 16 August for 6 weeks of duty patrolling off the bypassed Japanese - held atolls in the southern Marshall Islands . On 7 September , in an engagement with a shore battery on Wotje , nine of her men were wounded . Leaving Majuro 1 October on escort duty to Eniwetok , Ulithi , and Hollandia , she sailed north for San Pedro Bay , arriving 29 October for patrol duty in Leyte Gulf and Surigao Strait . On 18 November , she shot down a kamikaze plane , which crashed so close aboard that the pilot ' s parachute landed on the ship ' s forecastle . Continuing her support of the Philippines operation , " Flusser " escorted reinforcement convoys to Leyte from Hollandia , and on 4 December 1944 , received damage from the near miss of a Japanese suicide plane . A heavy air attack was launched at her group the next day , during which " Flusser " downed several planes , and rescued survivors of LSM - 20 following a kamikaze attack . The destroyer sailed from Leyte 6 December to cover the landings at Ormoc Bay , and next day her group was attacked by the first of many waves of suicide planes . " Flusser " shot down at least one of these , and aided survivors of stricken ships , screening " Lamson " ( DD - 367 ) back to San Pedro . " Flusser " sailed to Hollandia and Biak to prepare for the Lingayen operation , and arrived in Lingayen Gulf escorting the second group of reinforcements 13 January 1945 . She covered the landings at Nasugbu on 31 January , then participated in the assault at Puerto Princesa , Palawan , as well as convoying escort forces between Leyte , Mindoro , and Palawan . " Flusser " remained in the Philippines , joining in the landings on Cebu 26 March 1945 and escorting support convoys to that island , then escorted resupply convoys from Morotai to Polloc Harbor and Davao Gulf until 1 July . She participated in the Balikpapan operation , covering the landings , and escorting ships from Morotai , until 20 July , when she arrived at Manila . After brief overhaul , she sailed 31 August for escort duty to Okinawa , then arrived at Sasebo 16 September for occupation duty . Her officers served on teams inspecting Japanese naval and merchant shipping at Sasebo until 29 October , when the destroyer departed for San Diego , arriving 19 November . Fate . During the summer of 1946 , " Flusser " took part in Operation Crossroads , the atomic weapons tests in the Marshalls . She returned to Pearl Harbor from this duty 14 September , and on 12 November arrived at Norfolk , Virginia , where she was decommissioned 16 December 1946 and sold 6 January 1948 . " Flusser " received eight battle star s for World War II service .