USS Dallas ( DD - 199 ) USS " Dallas " ( DD - 199 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the second ship named for Captain Alexander J . Dallas , and was later renamed Alexander Dallas . " Dallas " was launched 31 May 1919 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company ; sponsored by Miss W . D . Strong , great granddaughter of Captain Dallas ; and commissioned 29 October 1920 , Lieutenant E . H . Roach in temporary command . Lieutenant A . R . Early assumed command 10 November 1920 . Service history . " Dallas " cruised on the east coast , participating in exercises and maneuvers from her base at Charleston , South Carolina . She arrived at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 12 April 1922 and was decommissioned there 26 June . Recommissioned on 14 April 1925 , " Dallas " served with various destroyer squadrons , acting as flagship for Squadrons 9 , 7 , and 1 . Until 1931 , she cruised on the east coast and in the Caribbean , engaging in gunnery exercises , battle torpedo practice , fleet maneuvers and problems ; participating in joint Army - Navy exercises ; training members of the Naval Reserve ; and serving as experimental ship at the Naval Torpedo Station , Newport , Rhode Island . On 9 January 1932 , " Dallas " sailed from Charleston , for the west coast , arriving at San Diego , California , 21 March . She operated along the west coast and in the Hawaiian Islands , conducting force practice and tactical exercises and participating in combined fleet exercises . " Dallas " sailed from San Diego 9 April 1934 for the Presidential Review of the Fleet in June 1934 at New York City , and tactical exercises on the east coast and in the Caribbean . Returning to San Diego 9 November , " Dallas " continued to operate in the Pacific until 1938 , cruising to Hawaii and Alaska . " Dallas " operated in the Panama Canal Zone area between May and November 1938 , visiting ports of the Republic of Panama ; rendering service to Submarine Squadron 3 ; and making a good - will call at Buenaventura , Colombia . On 17 November she weighed anchor for the east coast , arriving at Philadelphia 6 days later . She was again placed out of commission 23 March 1939 . With the outbreak of World War II in Europe , " Dallas " was recommissioned 25 September 1939 and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet , serving as flagship for Destroyer Squadrons 41 and 30 . She patrolled the Atlantic coast and conducted training exercises until 7 July 1941 when she got underway for NS Argentia , Newfoundland , arriving 4 days later . Between 11 July 1941 and 10 March 1942 she patrolled between Argentia and Halifax , Nova Scotia and escorted convoys to Reykjavík , Iceland , and Derry , Northern Ireland . From 1 April 1942 to 3 October , " Dallas " escorted coastal shipping from New York and Norfolk , Virginia to Florida , Texas , Cuba , Bermuda , and ports in the Caribbean . On 25 October she cleared Norfolk to rendezvous with TP 34 bound for the invasion landings on North Africa . " Dallas " was to carry a U . S . Army Raider battalion , and land them up the narrow , shallow , obstructed river to take a strategic airport near Port Lyautey , French Morocco . On 10 November , she began her run up the Sebou River under the guidance of Rene Malavergne , a civilian pilot ( who would later be the first foreign civilian to receive the Navy Cross ) . Under cannon and small arms fire throughout , she plowed her way through mud and shallow water , narrowly missing the many sunken ships and other obstructions , and sliced through a cable crossing the river , to land her troops safely just off the airport . Her outstanding success in completing this mission with its many unexpected complications won her the Presidential Unit Citation . On 15 November , she departed the African coast for Boston , Massachusetts , arriving 26 November . " Dallas " had convoy duty between Norfolk , New York and New London , Connecticut making one voyage to Gibraltar from 3 March to 14 April 1943 , until 9 May when she departed Norfolk for Oran , Algeria , arriving 23 May . She patrolled off the North African coast , then on 9 July joined TF 81 for screening duty during the Amphibious Battle of Gela , Sicily , from 10 to 12 July . She returned to convoy and patrol duties until 7 September when she joined the escort for a convoy bound for the invasion of the Italian mainland . " Dallas " screened the transport group during the landings at Salerno 9 September , and joined a south - bound convoy 2 days later , rescuing two downed British airmen on her way to Oran . She escorted reinforcements to Salerno , then served on escort and patrol in the Mediterranean until 11 December when she got underway for the east coast , arriving at Philadelphia on Christmas Eve . Following a thorough overhaul at Charleston , " Dallas " escorted two convoys to North Africa between 23 February and 9 June 1944 . On the second voyage , the escorts came under attack by enemy torpedo planes on 11 May , but successfully defended the convoy ; " Dallas " shot down at least one plane , and damaged others . She served on the east coast on various training and convoy assignments until 7 June 1945 , when she reported to Philadelphia . Her name was changed to " Alexander Dallas " 31 March to avoid confusion with cruiser , then under construction . " Alexander Dallas " was decommissioned 28 July 1945 and sold for scrap 30 November 1945 . Awards . In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation , " Dallas " received four battle star s for World War II service .