USS Paul Hamilton, a 2050-ton Fletcher class destroyer built at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, was commissioned in October 1943. She served with a destroyer training unit, based at Norfolk, Virginia, until April 1944, and was then sent to the Pacific. Paul Hamilton's first combat operation was the Marianas Campaign of June-August 1944, during which she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and escorted fleet replenishment groups. Her logistics force escort duty continued through November 1944, during which she supported the invasions of the Palaus and Leyte and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

In late 1944 and early 1945, Paul Hamilton operated in the Philippines, taking part in the Mindoro and Lingayen Gulf landings. In February and March, she participated in the Iwo Jima campaign, providing gunfire support for the Marines ashore as well as escort and rescue services. The destroyer was also active in a gunfire support role during the Okinawa campaign of March-June 1945. She returned to the U.S. for shipyard overhaul in July 1945, but, following Japan's surrender, was placed in reserve. After more than two decades in "mothballs", USS Paul Hamilton was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in May 1968. She was sold for scrapping in April 1970.

USS Paul Hamilton was named in honor of Paul Hamilton (1762-1816), who was Secretary of the Navy in 1809-1812.