Here is a concise summary of the text:
**Title:** The Misadventures of the USS William D. Porter (aka "Willie D")
**Summary:**
* The USS William D. Porter, a Fletcher-class destroyer, was commissioned in July 1943 with a penchant for mishaps.
* Its early incidents included:
+ Damaging another ship while setting sail
+ Accidentally dropping a live depth charge, causing an explosion
+ Firing on weather balloons, then nearly torpedoing the USS Iowa, which was escorting President Franklin D. Roosevelt
* The crew was arrested, then reassigned to a low-risk area (Alaska) after FDR intervened.
* Later, during the Battle of Okinawa, the ship finally saw action but ultimately sank after accidentally driving over a crashed kamikaze plane; miraculously, all crew members survived.
**Note:** The summary excludes the sponsor message (Skillshare) and the narrator's personal asides, focusing on the core story of the USS William D. Porter's misadventures.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, numbered and in short sentences, excluding opinions:
**Historical Events and Facts**
1. The USS William D. Porter (nicknamed "Willie D") was a Fletcher-class destroyer.
2. The ship was commissioned by the Navy in July 1943.
3. Lieutenant Commander Wilfred A. Walter was its first commanding officer.
4. The Willie D was assigned to a top-secret escort mission across the Atlantic in 1943.
5. The ship was part of a fleet that included the USS Iowa and two other destroyers.
6. The fleet's mission was to escort President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Cairo.
7. The USS Iowa tested its anti-air abilities by launching weather balloons on September 14, 1943.
8. The Willie D participated in impromptu torpedo drills, accidentally firing a torpedo at the USS Iowa.
9. The torpedo detonated at a safe distance from the USS Iowa, avoiding damage.
10. The crew of the Willie D was initially arrested for firing at the President's escort ship.
11. President Roosevelt intervened, reducing the crew's punishment.
12. The Willie D was later sent to the Aleutians and then to the Philippines.
13. The ship participated in the Battle of Okinawa under Commander Charles.
14. On June 10, 1945, the Willie D survived a kamikaze attack but was damaged after driving over the crashed plane.
15. The crew abandoned ship after 3 hours of repairs, and all members survived.
16. The ship sank 12 minutes after the crew's evacuation.
**Other Facts**
17. The text is sponsored by Skillshare, an online learning community.
18. Skillshare offers over 25,000 classes in design, business, technology, and more.
19. A special offer for viewers includes a 40% discount on a full-year Skillshare subscription.