Downes Mahan-class destroyer

wreckage of downes after being hit bombs during attack on pearl harbor, december 7, 1941

uss downes entered service in january 1937. following november, sailed norfolk, virginia, san diego, california. while based there, downes participated in exercises along west coast, in caribbean , in hawaiian waters until april 1940. pearl harbor became homeport. in 1941, downes joined cruise samoa, fiji islands, , australia, visited west coast later in year. when japanese attacked pearl harbor, downes in dry-dock battleship pennsylvania , destroyer cassin. both destroyers @ southern end of dock when incendiary bomb struck downes, setting unstoppable fires on both ships. cassin slipped blocks , rolled on onto burning downes, , downes later decommissioned.

downes rebuilt , recommissioned in november 1943. during march 1944, escorted convoy pearl harbor , on majuro in marshall islands. july, downes began escort duty eniwetok saipan in support of invasion of mariana islands. patrolled off tinian during invasion, , gave fire support during mop-up operations there. afterward, downes took part in bombardment of marcus island create diversion , destroy japanese installations, action admiral halsey later commended. during battle of leyte gulf, ship screened fast carrier task force during air strikes on vice admiral jisaburō ozawa s northern force. downes served in iwo jima june 1944 until end of war, when ship ordered return united states, arriving @ norfolk in november 1945. decommissioned in december 1945 , sold in november 1947. downes received 4 battle stars world war ii service.