USS LeRay Wilson ( DE - 414 ) USS LeRay Wilson ( DE - 414 ) 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 returned home proudly with four battle stars to her credit . She was named in honor of LeRay Wilson who was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery under attack by Japanese aircraft . She was laid down 20 December 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding Co . , Houston , Texas ; launched 28 January 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . Julia Wilson , mother of " LeRay Wilson " ; and commissioned 10 May 1944 , Lt . Comdr . M . V . Carson in command . History . World War II . After shakedown off Bermuda , the new destroyer escort departed Boston , Massachusetts , 15 July 1944 for the Pacific war zone . With calls at San Diego , California , Pearl Harbor , and Eniwetok , " LeRay Wilson " arrived Manus , Admiralties , as the Navy prepared for the invasion of the Philippines . Departing 12 October , she escorted the fabled “ Taffy 2 ” to Leyte , arriving 18 October . For the next 12 days , the destroyer escort remained on station screening Rear Admiral Stump ’ s escort carriers while they repelled the attacking Japanese Fleet and provided air cover for the landings . The ship arrived Manus 3 November and returned to the battle 20 to 28 November , escorting more carriers to provide air cover for the enemy - infested convoy lanes east and southeast of Leyte . With Leyte secured , the ship immediately became involved in the Lingayen Gulf operation . While on antisubmarine patrol near the western entrance to Lingayen Gulf 10 January 1945 , " LeRay Wilson " experienced the full fury of the Japanese suicide attacks . Spotting an enemy two - engine bomber dead ahead about 25 feet off the water , the ship ’ s gunners unflinchingly maintained continuous and deadly gunfire , diverting the aircraft enough to save the ship . As the suicide plane splashed , its starboard wing crashed the ship ’ s port side , killing six gunners , seriously wounding seven more , and causing extensive damage . " LeRay Wilson " continued patrolling until relieved later the same day , then steamed for Manus . In his battle report Lt . Comdr . M . V . Carson , commanding officer , wrote of his gallant men : “ I say that those men made naval tradition . May their gallant acts live always in the memory of a grateful nation . . . They were my shipmates and I am proud of them . ” During February and March 1945 , the ship repaired its port side and prepared for the largest and one of the toughest operations of the Pacific war , the capture and occupation of Okinawa . During April , she escorted two convoys of supply ships from Saipan to Okinawa . On 1 May " LeRay Wilson " began antisubmarine and antiaircraft screening duties off Okinawa . On 26 May she detected and made runs on a suicide midget submarine . Two days later , quick action from the destroyer escort splashed an enemy suicide plane before it could crash a sister ship . She departed Okinawa 16 June and arrived Ulithi the 26th . For the remainder of the war , " LeRay Wilson " supported the strikes on the Japanese homeland , escorting oilers and other logistics ships to rendezvous with Admiral Halsey ’ s U . S . 3rd Fleet in the East China Sea . After V - J Day , she steamed to Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender and occupation duty . The ship departed Tokyo Bay 12 October for Okinawa en route to duty along the coast of China , remaining there until she sailed 26 December for San Francisco , California , arriving 16 January 1946 and joining the Pacific Reserve Fleet . LeRay Wilson decommissioned 15 January 1947 . Korean War . With the advent of the Korean war and the need for more fighting ships , " LeRay Wilson " recommissioned 28 March 1951 . After 21⁄2 years of training and patrol duty between the U . S . West Coast and Pearl Harbor , the ship departed Pearl Harbor 27 August 1954 for the first of four WestPac cruises . LeRay Wilson continued these peacekeeping missions to the Far East until she decommissioned at San Diego , California , 30 January 1959 and reentered the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Fate . On 15 May 1972 she was struck from the Navy list , and , on 14 September 1973 , she was sold for scrapping . Awards . " LeRay Wilson " received four battle stars for World War II service .