USS Reid ( DD - 369 ) The third USS " Reid " ( DD - 369 ) was a in the United States Navy before and during World War II . She was named for Samuel Chester Reid a US Navy officer in the War of 1812 , who helped design the 1818 version of the flag of the United States History . " Reid " was laid down 25 June 1934 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , Kearny , New Jersey ; launched 11 January 1936 ; sponsored by Mrs . Beatrice Reid Power ; and commissioned 2 November 1936 , Captain Robert B . Carney in command . From 1937 into 1941 , " Reid " participated in training and fleet maneuvers in the $ 3 and $ 3 . During the attack on Pearl Harbor , " Reid " ' s gunners fired at the Japan ese planes , and downed one of them . After the attack , " Reid " patrolled off the Hawaiian Islands , Palmyra Atoll , and Johnston Island during December . In January 1942 , she escorted a convoy to San Francisco , California . Returning to Hawaii for more patrol duty , she later steamed to Midway Island , and then twice more escorted convoys from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco . Departing Pearl Harbor on 22 May 1942 , " Reid " steamed north to bombard Japanese positions on Kiska Island , Alaska on 7 August 1942 . She supported landings at Adak , Alaska , 30 August 1942 , and sank by gunfire the Japanese submarine RO - 61 on 31 August 1942 . After transferring five Japanese prisoners to Dutch Harbor , Alaska , she patrolled near New Caledonia , Samoa , and the Fiji Islands during October and November 1942 . Departing Suva Harbor , Fiji Islands on Christmas Day 1942 , she escorted Army troops to Guadalcanal before guarding a convoy to Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides . In January 1943 , she bombarded several enemy locations on Guadalcanal . After patrols in the Solomon Islands , " Reid " provided radar information and fighter direction for landings at Lae , New Guinea , 4 September 1943 . While supporting landings at Finschhafen , New Guinea on 22 September 1943 , she downed two enemy planes . Following patrol and escort duty off New Guinea , she sailed from Buna Roads , New Guinea , to escort troop transports for landings at Arawe , New Britain , 15 December 1943 . She protected landings at Cape Gloucester , New Britain , on 26 December 1943 , and at Saidor , New Guinea , 2 January 1944 . She guarded landings at Los Negros Island , Admiralty Islands , 29 February 1943 , and at Hollandia , New Guinea , 22 April 1943 . Her guns supported landings at Wakde Island 17 May 1943 , at Biak on the 27 May 1943 , and at Noemfoor Island , New Guinea , 2 July 1943 . Departing Pearl Harbor 29 August , she supported air strikes against Wake Island 3 September . After patrols off Leyte , Philippine Islands in November , she steamed to Ormoc Bay , Leyte , Philippines . She supported landings there 7 December , and escorted the damaged " Lamson " ( DD - 367 ) toward Leyte Gulf . Fate . In " Reid " s final two weeks in the waters around Leyte , the crew was able to sleep only an hour or two at a time . They were called to battle stations ( condition red ) an average of 10 times a day . It was a period of near constant combat . While escorting reinforcements for Ormoc Bay near Surigao Straits 11 December 1944 , " Reid " destroyed seven Japanese planes , when the following took place : " Reid " was protecting a re - supply force of amphibious craft bound for Ormoc Bay off the west coast of Leyte . At about 1700 hours , twelve enemy planes approached the convoy . The " Reid " was the nearest ship to the oncoming planes . Planes 1 and 2 were shot down by the 5 - inch battery , and Plane 3 exploded about 500 yards off the starboard beam . Plane 4 hooked a wing on the starboard rigging , crashing at the waterline . Its bomb exploded , causing considerable damage forward . Plane 5 strafed the starboard side and crashed on the port bow . Plane 6 strafed the bridge from the port side and crashed off the starboard bow . Planes 5 and 6 apparently had no bombs or their bombs were duds . Plane 7 came in from astern , strafed " Reid " and crashed into the port quarter . Its bomb exploded in the after magazine , blowing the ship apart . All this action took place in less than a minute . The ship was mortally wounded but still doing 20 knots . As the stern opened up , she rolled violently , then laid over on her starboard side and dove to the bottom at 600 fathoms . It was over in less than two minutes , and 103 crewmen went down with her . The survivors were strafed in the water by Japanese planes before rescue . " Reid " received seven battle star s for World War II service .