USS Henry A . Wiley ( DM - 29 ) USS " Henry A . Wiley " ( DD - 749 / DM - 29 / MMD - 29 ) was a " Robert H . Smith " - class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy . She was named for Admiral Henry A . Wiley . " Henry A . Wiley " was launched 21 April 1944 as DD - 749 by Bethlehem Steel Company , Staten Island , New York ; sponsored by Mrs . Elizabeth W . Robb , daughter of Admiral Henry A . Wiley ; reclassified DM - 29 20 July 1944 and commissioned 31 August 1944 , Commander Robert Emmett Gadrow in command . After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea , the new minelayer rendezvoused with the battleship s , , and and sailed 8 November for the Pacific to earn her nickname " Hammering Hank . " " Henry A . Wiley " reached Pearl Harbor 9 December to prepare for the impending Iwo Jima campaign . As escort to the battleship , she rendezvoused with other ships of the Gunfire and Covering Force off the rocky Japan ese island on 16 February 1945 , 3 days before the initial landings . She remained there until 9 March , to provide fire support and screen ships often operating a mere 400 yards from Mount Suribachi . The minelayer poured some 3 , 600 rounds into the Japanese fortress . A second and even more arduous campaign followed for " Henry A . Wiley " — Okinawa , the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war . Reaching her position 23 March , D - day minus eight , she began to screen minesweepers as they cleared channels for transports and support ships . Japanese resistance was fierce and air attacks were almost unceasing . On 28 March , " Henry A . Wiley " downed two kamikaze planes , and the next morning in 15 hectic minutes saw a bomb explode 50 yards astern , downed two more kamikazes , and rescued a downed fighter pilot . While screening transports on 1 April , D - day at Okinawa , " Henry A . Wiley " destroyed her fifth kamikaze . The battle - tried ship then shifted to radar picket duty and spent a total of 34 days on this important task , alerting other ships of enemy air attacks . During this period , " Henry A . Wiley " took 64 Japanese aircraft under fire , destroying several of them . The morning of 4 May proved especially eventful . She began by downing a Betty at 0307 . When her sister ship , , was reported sinking , " Henry A . Wiley " proceeded to her aid , but came under heavy air attack . In less than a quarter hour of heavy fighting , the valiant ship splashed three kamikazes and two Baka bombers , one of which was closing from the starboard quarter when it was hit by " Henry A . Wiley ' s " accurate fire . It hit the water , bounced over the fantail , and exploded just off the port quarter . Having expended nearly 5 , 000 rounds of 5 - inch and AA ammunition , the minelayer then proceeded to rescue survivors from Luce . For her intrepid actions off Okinawa , which resulted in the destruction of 15 Japanese planes , " Henry A . Wiley " received the Presidential Unit Citation , and her skipper the Navy Cross and Legion of Merit . From Okinawa , " Henry A . Wiley " sailed for the East China Sea , entering 12 June to screen minesweepers attempting to clear that vast body of water . She remained on this duty , with brief respites at Buckner Bay , until peace came . Even this duty was ushered in to the sound of " Hammering Hank ' s " guns , as on the night of 14 August , 24 hours before final orders to cease offensive operations against the Japanese were received , she went to General Quarters 6 times at the approach of aircraft , finally opening fire on the 6th run as an attack run commenced . " Henry A . Wiley " remained in the Pacific to screen and guide minesweepers through the end of 1945 . She streamed her homeward bound pennant 17 January 1946 and on 7 February reached San Francisco , California via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor . " Henry A . Wiley " decommissioned at San Francisco 29 January 1947 and went into reserve at San Diego , California . " Henry A . Wiley " was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 October 1970 and sold for scrapping on 30 May 1972 . In addition to the Presidential Unit Commendation , " Henry A . Wiley " received four battle star s for her participation in World War II . As of 2009 , no other ship has been named " Henry A . Wiley " .