USS Zellars (DD-777), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named for Thomas Edward Zellars, a lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy who served on the Mississippi (BB-41). On 12 June 1924, Thomas Zellars and 47 other crew members died in a firing accident. However before they were killed, Zellars apparently opened a flood valve that extinguished the fire, preventing further damage to the ship and likely saving the lives of his shipmates. The destroyer that was named for him was laid down on 24 December 1943 at Seattle, Washington, by the Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc.; launched on 19 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas M. Zellars; and commissioned on 25 October 1944, Commander Blinn Van Mater in command.