USS Laub ( DD - 613 ) USS " Laub " ( DD - 613 ) was a in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the second ship named for Henry Laub , who was killed during the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 . " Laub " was laid down 1 May 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Corporation , San Pedro , California ; launched 28 April 1942 ; sponsored by Miss Barbara Mohun Handley , a collateral descendant of Henry Laub ; and commissioned 24 October 1942 , Lieutenant Commander J . F . Gallaher in command . Service history . After shakedown along the west coast , " Laub " steamed through the Panama Canal , arriving Norfolk , Virginia 1 February 1943 . She departed New York 7 February , escorting a convoy to North Africa . After reaching Casablanca , the destroyer patrolled the African coast until departing 14 March with a return convoy to the United States . The following month , she sailed with another convoy . On 26 May , while escorting a return convoy , she joined other escorts in chasing off an enemy U - boat set on attacking the vulnerable supply ships in the convoy . The destroyer departed New York on her third extended voyage 11 June to join Allied forces in north Africa preparing for the invasion of Sicily . On 5 July she sailed from Oran to screen the transports and their passage to the strategic Sicilian beaches . The amphibious force arrived off Sicily 4 days later , made a dramatic night landing , and the next day fought off Nazi aircraft . On the 11th , while bombarding the shore , " Laub " assisted in downing an aircraft . Continuing fire support operations , " Laub " destroyed four tanks and damaged strategic bridges . The destroyer returned to Mers el Kebir 15 July and continued operations in the Mediterranean Sea until joining a convoy for America on 28 July . " Laub " made additional convoy runs to north Africa and the United Kingdom before returning to Oran to support the Allied campaigns in the Mediterranean . Off north Africa 6 November , six planes made a torpedo attack on " Laub " s convoy , scoring several hits . " Laub " proceeded to assist the stricken ships , " Beatty " , " Maraix " , and " Ruys " , and rescued 341 survivors . From November 1943 until April 1944 , the destroyer continued escort operations in the Mediterranean , and made several cross - Atlantic cruises from New York to the British Isles . Returning to Oran 2 May , " Laub " sailed 10 days later with to provide fire support off the Anzio beachhead on the west coast of Italy . On the 23rd while bombarding the Italian coast , " Laub " collided with " Philadelphia " . Following temporary repairs at Naples and additional ones at Boston , Massachusetts the destroyer was back in Oran 2 December . For the rest of the European campaign , she performed escort and fire support missions off the French - Italian coast . Departing Oran 15 May 1945 , she reached Boston on the 23rd and began training in the Caribbean in preparation for Pacific duty . " Laub " returned to Casco Bay , Maine , when the Japan ese surrender was announced . The destroyer arrived Charleston , South Carolina , 2 November and decommissioned there 2 February 1946 , joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . " Laub " was stricken from the Naval Register on 1 July 1971 . She was then sold on 14 January 1975 , and broken up for scrap . Awards . " Laub " received four battle stars for World War II service .