USN

USS Valley Forge was the name given to several notable ships in the United States Navy, most famously the Essex-class aircraft carrier CV-45. Commissioned in November 1946, USS Valley Forge participated in key operations during the Korean War, providing critical air support during major engagements such as the Inchon landing in 1950. The carrier later saw service during the Vietnam War, earning multiple battle stars for her efforts. After a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, USS Valley Forge was decommissioned in 1970.

The Great Lakes naval region has played a significant role in U.S. military history, particularly during the War of 1812, when both American and British forces vied for control over vital waterways. The establishment of Navy training facilities, most notably Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois in 1911, marked the area as a crucial center for naval preparation and support. Throughout both World Wars, the station trained hundreds of thousands of sailors, contributing greatly to the U.S. Navy's operational strength. Today, Naval Station Great Lakes remains the Navy’s only boot camp, training all enlisted personnel and continuing its legacy as a backbone of naval readiness.

Naval Station Newport, located in Newport, Rhode Island, traces its origins to the establishment of the Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in 1869, marking the beginning of Newport's critical role in U.S. naval operations. Over the decades, the station evolved into a major center for naval education and training, notably becoming home to the prestigious Naval War College in 1884. During World War II, Newport served as a key site for officer training and research in torpedo development. Today, Naval Station Newport remains a vital hub for Navy education, hosting multiple commands including the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Officer Training Command Newport.

NAVCOMSTA San Diego, officially known as Naval Communications Station San Diego, was established during World War II to serve as a vital communications hub for the United States Navy’s operations in the Pacific theater. Its mission was to provide secure and reliable radio, teletype, and later satellite communication services to naval forces deployed across the Pacific Ocean. Over the decades, NAVCOMSTA San Diego played a critical role during the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cold War, adapting to advances in communications technology. In the late 20th century, as communications infrastructure evolved, many of its functions were integrated into new commands, and the station’s original site was eventually closed or repurposed.

USS BELLEAU WOOD

U.S. Navy

USS **Belleau Wood** refers to two notable ships in United States Navy history, named after the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood. The first, **USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)**, was a light aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943, serving with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II, participating in major campaigns such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea. For her service, she earned 12 battle stars before being transferred to the French Navy in 1953. The second, **USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)**, was an amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1978, supporting numerous operations including humanitarian missions and Operation Desert Storm, before decommissioning in 2005. Both ships upheld the legacy of their namesake, embodying valor and service in their respective eras.

USS FRANK CABLE

U.S. Navy

The USS FRANK CABLE (AS-40) is a submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1979. Named after Frank Taylor Cable, a pioneer in submarine development, the vessel was originally homeported in Charleston, South Carolina, providing maintenance and logistical support to submarines and surface ships. In 1996, the Frank Cable was forward-deployed to Guam, where it continues to serve as a vital support platform for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, enhancing the Navy's operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific region. Over its decades of service, the ship has participated in numerous missions, humanitarian assistance efforts, and joint exercises with allied nations.

USS Iowa (BB-61) is the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships, commissioned into the United States Navy in 1943. She served with distinction in World War II, providing fire support during the Pacific campaigns and escorting aircraft carriers. USS Iowa later saw action during the Korean War, bombarding enemy positions along the coast. After periods of decommissioning and modernization, she was reactivated in the 1980s before finally being decommissioned in 1990, and now serves as a museum ship in Los Angeles, California.

USS Yosemite is the name given to several ships in the United States Navy, with the most notable being a converted auxiliary cruiser commissioned during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Originally built as the civilian steamer El Sud, she was quickly outfitted for military service and played a key role in blockading Spanish forces in the Caribbean, particularly around San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship was praised for her speed and effectiveness in disrupting enemy shipping. Sadly, Yosemite was lost in a typhoon off Guam in 1900, but her brief service was marked by dedication and valor.

AEWBARRONPAC, officially known as Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron, Pacific, was a United States Navy unit established in the 1950s during the Cold War. Its primary mission was to provide airborne early warning coverage using Lockheed WV-2 (EC-121) Warning Star aircraft, patrolling the Pacific Barrier between Midway Island and Alaska to detect potential Soviet bomber or missile threats approaching North America. AEWBARRONPAC crews operated long, grueling flights, often in challenging weather conditions, to maintain a continuous radar surveillance line. The unit was disestablished in the mid-1960s as advances in radar technology and satellite surveillance made its mission obsolete.