USS Clemson (DD-186/AVP-17/AVD-4/APD-31) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers which served in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Midshipman Henry A. Clemson (1820–1846), who was lost at sea when the brig capsized in a sudden squall off Vera Cruz on 8 December 1846 while chasing a blockade runner. Entering service in 1919, the ship had a brief active life before placed in reserve in 1922. Converted to an aircraft tender in 1939, the ship reactivated in 1940. In 1943, Clemson reconverted to a destroyer and served in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. In 1944, the ship was converted into a high speed transport and transferred to the Pacific taking part in several invasions. Following the end of the war, the ship was taken out of service again and sold for scrapping in 1946. As of 2019, she is the only ship in the United States Navy to have received the name Clemson. Construction and commissioning Clemson was launched 5 September 1918 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia; sponsored by Miss M. C. Daniels. The ship was commissioned on 29 December 1919. Service history 1919–1922 Clemson cruised in United States East Coast and Cuban waters until placed in reserve with 50% complement at Norfolk Navy Yard o 13 June 1920. She lay there and later at the Charleston Navy Yard and Boston Navy Yard until she steamed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was decommissioned 30 June 1922. World War II In the Atlantic Reclassified AVP-17, 15 November 1939, and converted into a small aircraft tender, Clemson was recommissioned 12 July 1940. On 6 August, she was again reclassified, becoming AVD-4, and on 18 August reported to Commander, Aircraft, Scouting Force, Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk, Virginia. From 29 August 1940 to 28 November 1941 she tended patrol planes in the Caribbean and at the Galapagos Islands. Clemson then sailed south arriving at Recife, Brazil, 6 December. She remained on the coast of Brazil until 22 January 1942 when she returned to the Galapagos Islands. For the next year the tender shuttled between there and the Caribbean as her services was required. She returned to Norfolk, 2 March 1943 and then moved to Charleston, for reconversion to a destroyer (although not reclassified DD-186 until 1 December 1943). On 30 May 1943, she joined