Joshua Cobb

USS TAYLOR

U.S. Navy

Unit with 81 member associations.

The USS O'Bannon (DD-987) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on 15 December 1979. Named after Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, the ship served during the latter years of the Cold War, participating in numerous Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, NATO exercises, and Persian Gulf operations. O'Bannon played a key role in maritime security, anti-submarine warfare, and enforcing sanctions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After over two decades of service, the destroyer was decommissioned on 19 August 2005 and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2008.

Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Jacksonville (FACSFAC JAX), located in Jacksonville, Florida, was established in 1977 to provide vital airspace management and surveillance support for military operations in the southeastern United States. FACSFAC JAX is responsible for controlling and coordinating military airspace, including offshore warning areas, ensuring safe and efficient flight operations for Navy, Marine Corps, and other Department of Defense aircraft. Over the years, the unit has played a critical role in supporting training, readiness, and operational missions for Atlantic Fleet forces. FACSFAC JAX continues to modernize its systems and procedures, maintaining its standing as a cornerstone of U.S. Navy aviation operations in the region.

USS DEWERT

U.S. Navy

Unit with 66 member associations.

Naval Station Rota, located in southern Spain near the city of Cádiz, was established in 1953 through a bilateral agreement between the United States and Spain. Initially constructed to support both U.S. and Spanish naval operations during the Cold War, the base became a crucial logistics and supply point for the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet and NATO forces in the Mediterranean. Over the decades, Naval Station Rota has played key roles in supporting operations such as Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and ongoing maritime security missions. Today, it remains a strategic hub for trans-Atlantic operations, hosting both U.S. and Spanish forces and serving as a critical waypoint for naval aircraft, ships, and personnel.

FLEASWTRACENPAC, or Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center Pacific, was established to provide advanced training in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) for U.S. Navy personnel in the Pacific Fleet. Located in San Diego, California, the center played a crucial role during the Cold War, enhancing the Navy’s capabilities to detect and counter underwater threats from potential adversaries. FLEASWTRACENPAC offered both classroom instruction and practical exercises using the latest sonar technology and tactics. Over the decades, its training programs contributed significantly to maintaining U.S. maritime superiority in the Pacific theater.

USS *Spruance* (DD-963) was the lead ship of the Spruance-class destroyers, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1975. Named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, she served as a multi-mission destroyer specializing in anti-submarine warfare, while also providing anti-air and anti-surface capabilities. Over her nearly three decades of service, *Spruance* participated in numerous operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Persian Gulf, notably supporting Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The ship was decommissioned in 2005 and subsequently sunk as a target during a naval exercise in 2006.