USS Johnston, a 2100-ton Fletcher class destroyer built at Seattle, Washington, was commissioned in October 1943. She was very active in the Pacific during 1944, participating in the Marshalls, Marianas, Palaus and Leyte campaigns. On 15 May, while operating in the Solomons Islands, Johnston assisted in sinking the Japanese submarine I-176.

On 25 October 1944, while serving with an escort carrier task force in support of the Leyte campaign, Johnston and a few other destroyers and destroyer escorts valiantly attacked an overwhelmingly strong Japanese battleship and cruiser force during the Battle off Samar. Though she was lost in this action, along with most of her crew, Johnston's efforts were instrumental in saving most of the carriers and preventing the Japanese fleet from reaching the Leyte invasion area.