USS Boyd (DD-544)

• Namesake: USS Boyd (DD-544) was named after Joseph Boyd, a U.S. Navy officer who served with distinction during the early 19th century, including the War of 1812. • Ship Class: USS Boyd was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most famous and numerous destroyer classes used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. • Commissioning: The ship was launched on October 27, 1942, and commissioned on May 8, 1943, at the Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipyard in San Francisco, California. • Pearl Harbor Arrival: After shakedown, Boyd arrived at Pearl Harbor in August 1943 and quickly joined operations in the Pacific Theater. • Wake Island Raid: Boyd participated in the famous Wake Island raid in October 1943, providing gunfire support and anti-aircraft defense for the carrier task force. • Kamikaze Attack: On January 27, 1945, during operations off Okinawa, Boyd was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft but managed to avoid major damage and casualties through skilled maneuvering and anti-aircraft fire. • Rescue Missions: Boyd rescued numerous downed American aviators during her service, including during the Marianas Campaign where she saved several pilots under heavy enemy fire. • Bombardment of Saipan: The ship provided naval gunfire support during the invasion of Saipan in June 1944, helping to silence enemy shore batteries and support ground forces. • Post-War Service: After World War II, Boyd was placed in reserve but was recommissioned during the Korean War, serving on patrol and escort duties before being decommissioned again in 1957. • Transfer to Turkey: In 1969, USS Boyd was transferred to the Turkish Navy and served as TCG Iskenderun (D-343) until her final decommissioning and scrapping, thus extending her legacy across two navies.