The USS McGowan (DD-678) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, launched on 24 April 1944. It was named after Lieutenant Colonel John McGowan, a U.S. Marine Corps officer who was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery during World War II. The ship was commissioned on 30 December 1944 and served primarily in the Pacific Theater during the war. After World War II, the USS McGowan continued to serve in various capacities, including participating in the Korean War. The destroyer was decommissioned in 1970 and later sold for scrap in 1974. Throughout its service, the USS McGowan earned several battle stars for its contributions to naval operations.