USS Picking (DD-685), a , was a ship of the United States Navy named for Sherwood Picking (1890–1941), a submarine commander during World War I. Namesake Sherwood Picking was born on 21 February 1890 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1911. During World War I, Lieutenant Commander Picking was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism as the commander of the submarine . During the inter-war period, he commanded the submarine base at Coco Solo, Canal Zone. He was promoted to Captain on 1 July 1939. He died on 1 September 1941 in a plane crash in Scotland en route to temporary duty in London. Construction and commissioning Picking (DD–685) was laid down on 24 November 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Inc., Staten Island, N.Y.; launched on 1 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Sherwood Picking; and commissioned on 21 September 1943. Service history World War II Following shakedown off Bermuda, Picking proceeded via the Panama Canal to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where she arrived 28 December 1943 to serve with the North Pacific Fleet, Destroyer Squadron 49. She bombarded Paramushiro, Kuriles, 4 February 1944, Matsuwa Island, Kuriles, 13 June, and Paramushiro again 26 June. In August she steamed to San Francisco, California for upkeep, and then to Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor on the 31st where she joined the 3rd Fleet. Escorting attack transports, she arrived at Manus Island 3 October. Assigned to the 7th Fleet, she screened for the southern landings on Leyte 20 October. While escorting unloaded transports bound for Hollandia, New Guinea, she splashed one plane 24 October. Upon news of the Battle off Samar Island, Picking rushed to provide protection. She and splashed one plane on 25 October. After the Battle for Leyte Gulf, she escorted and to Manus Island and returned to Leyte 20 November to protect Allied convoys bringing reinforcements. Following replenishment at Manus, Picking provided antiaircraft protection for the beachhead at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines on 9 January 1945. She screened landings at San Antonio, Philippines on 29 January and provided fire support and screen protection as troops went ashore on Mariveles on 15 February, and on Corregidor 16 February. Following replenishment at Leyte, the destroyer arrived off Kerama Retto, Ryukyus on 26 March, and screened transports during landings that morning. Assigned to fire support duty on 1 April, she bombarded Japanese positions on Okinawa vigorously. She splashed two enemy