USS Grady ( DE - 445 ) USS Grady ( DE - 445 ) was a " John C . Butler " - class destroyer escort acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II . The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy , in addition to other tasks as assigned , such as patrol or radar picket . Post - war she proudly returned home with three battle stars to her credit . " Grady " ( DE - 445 ) was named in honor of Marine Corporal George Francis Grady who was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery on Gavutu in the Solomon Islands . She was launched by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co . , Newark , New Jersey , 2 April 1944 ; sponsored by Miss Margaret Grady , sister of the namesake ; and commissioned 11 September 1944 , Lt . Comdr . Francis R . King in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Grady " conducted her shakedown training at Bermuda 2 October – 2 November . Returning to Boston , Massachusetts , the ship sailed 17 November for Norfolk , Virginia , escorting transport , and from Norfolk continued through the Panama Canal to San Diego , California , where she arrived 4 December . " Grady " sailed immediately via San Francisco , California , for Pearl Harbor , where she arrived 15 December 1944 . Until 23 December she operated with carrier during flight qualifications , rescuing three downed aviators . Supporting Iwo Jima and Saipan operations . With the American offensive in the Pacific then entering its climactic phase , " Grady " departed 26 December 1944 for Eniwetok and Ulithi , arriving the latter base 10 January 1945 . For the next month the ship acted as escort to a vital tanker group engaged in refueling units of the U . S . 3rd Fleet at sea , units then engaged in air strikes against Formosa and the Chinese mainland . She then proceeded off Iwo Jima 10 February to screen escort carriers during the pre - invasion bombardment . During the assault 19 February " Grady " patrolled in an antisubmarine screen , and departed the area 2 March en route to Saipan . Supporting Okinawa invasion operations . Arriving at Saipan 5 March , " Grady " refueled and departed the next day for Espiritu Santo . Upon her arrival 19 March , the ship joined in preparations for the upcoming Okinawa invasion , last giant step on the long sea road to Japan . She got underway in convoy 25 March , and after stopping at Ulithi arrived off the invasion beaches 9 April . As the bloody fighting raged ashore , " Grady " and the other ships engaged in equally fierce radar and antisubmarine picket duty were savagely attacked by Japanese suicide planes . " Grady " and " Metcalf " downed one of the kamikazes 16 April while at station D - 37 off Okinawa . The escort vessel escorted five fast transports to Saipan 5 – 16 May , and then returned to the picket stations off Okinawa , occasionally helping to provide antiaircraft fire in the huge transport anchorages . Supporting Philippine operations . " Grady " continued this arduous duty until 28 June , when she sailed for Leyte Gulf . Arriving 1 July in the Philippines , she was assigned as offshore patrol vessel and remained in the islands until 5 November 1945 , twice making convoy voyages to Okinawa . End - of - war assignments . " Grady " began the long voyage home 5 November 2 months after the surrender of Japan . Cruising via Manila Bay and Pearl Harbor , she arrived at San Pedro , California , 26 November . Scheduled for deactivation , the ship was towed to San Diego , California , and decommissioned 2 July 1946 . Reactivated post - war as a training ship . Placed in the San Diego Group , Pacific Reserve Fleet , " Grady " remained inactive until 27 April 1947 , when she was placed in an " In Service in Reserve " status . For the next 3 years the ship served as a Naval Reserve Training vessel under the 13th Naval District . Based at Bellingham , Washington , she cruised for 2 or 3 week periods training reservists . Grady was placed in an " In Commission In Reserve " status 1 August 1950 , and recommissioned in the active fleet 21 November 1950 . The ship was placed under the 12th Naval District at San Francisco , California , continuing her important role as training ship for reserve officers and men , and as school ship for Fleet Sonar School , San Diego , California . Final decommissioning . " Grady " decommissioned a second time 18 December 1957 and was placed in reserve at Stockton , California . Military awards . " Grady " received three battle stars for World War II Service .