The USS Fletcher (DD-445) is the first ship of the US Navy's Fletcher class destroyer, named in honor of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. Construction began on October 2, 1941, was completed on May 3, 1942, and was put into service on June 30 of the same year.
After entering service, the Fletcher was deployed in the Western Pacific region. In 1942, it participated in the First Battle of Guadalcanal. In 1943, the Fletcher continued to patrol and transport escort missions in the Solomon Islands, and provided cover for a new landing point to the north of Guadalcanal. On January 11, 1943, during a patrol mission, Fletcher sank the Japanese I-18 submarine. In 1944, the USS Fletcher participated in covering up the attack forces on Luzon Island, providing firepower support for the Nasugbu Bay landing operation, the occupation operation of Corgi do, the minesweeping operation in Manila Bay, and patrol and escort missions in the Philippines. On May 13, 1945, the Fletcher returned to the West Coast for major repairs and remained parked in San Diego until it was retired and sealed on January 15, 1947.
On October 3, 1949, the sealed Fletcher was converted into an escort destroyer and returned to service. It later participated in the Korean War and returned to China as an anti submarine training ship after the war. It was decommissioned again in 1969 and dissolved in 1972.
During its service, the Fletcher received 15 Combat Stars during World War II and 5 Combat Stars during the Korean War, totaling 20 Combat Stars.
