As the war closed, "John Rodgers" screened the 3rd Fleet during almost continuous raids on Japan. As the Flagship of Destroyer Squadron 25 (DesRon 25) since September 1943, the USS John Rodgers lead DesRon 25 in late July on the Suruga Wan antishipping sweep and penetrated to within 1½ miles of the Japanese shoreline, probably the closest approach made by any Allied surface ships during the entire war. Admiral William Halsey congratulated the division commander who had led the sweep on board "John Rodgers": "Loud applause to you and your boys for a well planned sweep conducted in the best destroyer tradition. You have been enrolled on the emperor's blacklist."