USN

USS Essex (CVS-9) was an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1942, serving as the lead ship of the Essex-class carriers for the United States Navy. During World War II, Essex participated in major Pacific Theater operations, including strikes against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and attacks on the Japanese home islands. After the war, she underwent modernization and was redesignated as an anti-submarine warfare carrier (CVS) in 1959. Essex continued to serve through the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, and early Vietnam War before being decommissioned in 1969.

USS KEARSARGE

U.S. Navy

USS Kearsarge is the name given to several notable ships in United States Navy history, most famously the sloop-of-war commissioned in 1862. During the American Civil War, USS Kearsarge gained renown by defeating the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864, a pivotal naval engagement that bolstered Union morale. Later, the name was carried by a series of aircraft carriers, beginning with USS Kearsarge (CV-33), an Essex-class carrier commissioned in 1946 that served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. The legacy continues today with USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1993, supporting a wide range of military operations and humanitarian missions around the globe.

USS Seattle (AOE-3) was a Sacramento-class fast combat support ship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1969. Designed to provide rapid replenishment of fuel, ammunition, and supplies to carrier strike groups at sea, she played a crucial logistical role during the Vietnam War and throughout the Cold War. Over her distinguished career, Seattle participated in numerous deployments in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Persian Gulf, supporting operations such as Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After nearly 35 years of service, she was decommissioned in 2005 and eventually scrapped in 2011.

USS Prairie (AD-15) was a Dixie-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1940. During World War II, she provided vital repair and supply services to destroyers and other vessels in the Pacific Theater, supporting operations at locations such as Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Leyte. After the war, Prairie continued her service during the Korean War and later supported the fleet throughout the Cold War, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. She was decommissioned in 1993, having served the Navy for over five decades.

**Beachmaster Unit TWO (BMU-2)** is a United States Navy expeditionary unit established in 1949 and based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia. Its primary mission is to provide beach control and support for amphibious landings, ensuring the seamless movement of troops, vehicles, and supplies from sea to shore. BMU-2 has played a key role in major military operations and humanitarian missions, including support during the Korean War, Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and disaster relief efforts worldwide. The unit continues to serve as a critical link between naval forces and the shore, maintaining readiness for rapid deployment in support of U.S. and allied operations.

The Communications Tech. R (Radio) and T (Telecommunications) branches have played a crucial role in military operations since their establishment during the mid-20th century. Initially formed to handle secure and reliable transmission of information, these units were instrumental in coordinating battlefield movements and intelligence during the Cold War and subsequent conflicts. Over the decades, the branches adapted to rapidly advancing technologies, expanding their capabilities from traditional radio and telegraph systems to sophisticated digital and satellite communications. Today, the Communications Tech. R and T units remain at the forefront of military communications, ensuring operational security and connectivity in both conventional and cyber warfare environments.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) – Saigon was established by the United States Navy in 1966 during the Vietnam War to provide vital logistical, administrative, and supply support to naval and joint military operations in the Saigon area and throughout the Mekong Delta. The unit played a crucial role in sustaining Riverine and coastal patrol forces, repairing craft, and distributing ammunition, fuel, and provisions to U.S. and allied forces. NSA Saigon managed a complex network of depots, piers, and transportation assets, ensuring continuous operational capability for naval operations such as Operation Game Warden and Operation Market Time. The unit continued its mission until the drawdown of American forces, officially disestablishing in 1973 following the Paris Peace Accords.

USS NEW JERSEY

U.S. Navy

USS **New Jersey** (BB-62) is an Iowa-class battleship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1943. She saw extensive combat during World War II, providing crucial shore bombardment and anti-aircraft support in the Pacific Theater. Reactivated for the Korean and Vietnam Wars, New Jersey delivered powerful naval gunfire in support of ground operations. The battleship was modernized and served again in the 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War before being decommissioned for the final time in 1991. Today, USS New Jersey serves as a museum ship in Camden, New Jersey.

USS ORION (AS-18) was a Fulton-class submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943 during World War II. She played a vital role supporting submarine operations in the Pacific Theater, providing repairs, supplies, and maintenance to fleet submarines at forward bases including Midway, Pearl Harbor, and Guam. After World War II, ORION continued her service through the Korean and Vietnam Wars, adapting to the changing needs of the submarine force during the Cold War. Decommissioned in 1993, USS ORION had a distinguished career spanning five decades, ensuring the operational readiness of the U.S. Navy’s submarines.