Post-war Service
With the end of hostilities and Japan's unconditional surrender, Lardner escorted the crippled Borie to Saipan 17 August 1945, and from Saipan sailed to Okinawa to join a group of battleships preparing to sail to Japan for the Japanese surrender. Lardner arrived Sagami Wan on 27 August and entered Tokyo Bay on 29 August, escorting Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz's flagship South Dakota. Lardner next joined in evacuating several hundred prisoners-of-war from southern Honshū. Lardner operated with several task groups and units performing varied occupation duties until 15 October when she departed Honshu with TG 50.5 for home. On the homeward voyage, she touched at Singapore, Ceylon, Cape Town, and Saldanha Bay, South Africa, before arriving New York on 7 December 1945.
The veteran destroyer remained at New York until 9 February 1946, then sailed to Charleston, South Carolina. Lardner decommissioned 16 May 1946 and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until transferred to Turkey 10 June 1949 under the Military Assistance Program. She served the Turkish Navy as TCG ''Gemlik'' (D 347) until 1974.
On 21 November 1982, the ship was sunk as a target in the Eastern Mediterranean by the Biddle, Julius A. Furer, Truett, and aircraft from CVW-6.
Lardner received 10 battle stars for World War II service.
Read more about this topic: USS Lardner (DD-487)
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