USN

USS Tom Green County (LST-1159) was a Terrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1953. Primarily serving in the Pacific, she played a key logistical role during the Vietnam War, transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies to support combat operations. The ship participated in numerous amphibious landings and provided essential support for riverine and coastal missions. After nearly two decades of service, USS Tom Green County was decommissioned in 1972 and later transferred to the Republic of the Philippines.

USS Tringa (ASR-16) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Designed to support submarine rescue and salvage operations, Tringa played a crucial role in aiding distressed submarines, conducting training exercises, and participating in fleet maneuvers during her service. Throughout her career, she operated extensively along the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean, and occasionally in the Mediterranean, contributing to both peacetime and Cold War readiness. USS Tringa was decommissioned in 1975, marking the end of three decades of vital undersea support service.

USS Turner (DDR-834) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Named in honor of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, the ship initially served during the final months of World War II and then participated extensively in Cold War operations, including NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. In 1956, Turner was converted to a radar picket destroyer (DDR), enhancing her air defense capabilities. The vessel remained active until her decommissioning in 1969, after which she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and later scrapped.

USS Ute (AT-76) was a Cherokee-class fleet tug commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943. Throughout World War II, she provided vital towing, salvage, and rescue operations across the Pacific Theater, supporting major campaigns such as the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. USS Ute continued her service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, earning multiple battle stars for her steadfast support roles in both conflicts. Decommissioned in 1989, USS Ute’s long and distinguished career stands as a testament to the essential contributions of auxiliary vessels in naval operations.

**USS Utina (ATF-163)** was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. She provided essential towing, salvage, and rescue services during the final months of World War II and throughout the early Cold War period, supporting fleet operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Utina was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy in 1977, serving as **USS Outpost (YAGR-10)** under her new designation. The vessel continued her service in regional maritime support roles until her eventual decommissioning, marking decades of versatile naval utility.

USS Valor (AM-472) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. Launched in 1944, she participated in mine-clearing operations along the U.S. East Coast and the Atlantic, ensuring safe passage for Allied vessels. Valor played a crucial role in post-war efforts, clearing minefields to restore maritime safety. Decommissioned in 1947, she was placed in reserve before being struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS Vance (DER-387) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Originally commissioned in 1943, she served primarily as a convoy escort in the Atlantic, protecting merchant ships from German U-boats. After the war, Vance was decommissioned but later recommissioned and converted to a radar picket ship (DER) during the Cold War, serving as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line in the Pacific. The USS Vance also participated in Operation Market Time during the Vietnam War, conducting coastal surveillance and interdiction patrols before her final decommissioning in 1970.

USS Vicksburg (CG-69) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on November 14, 1992. Named after the Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, the ship has served in multiple operational theaters, including the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Persian Gulf. USS Vicksburg has participated in significant missions such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing air defense and surface warfare capabilities. Over her service, the cruiser has supported carrier strike groups, conducted maritime security operations, and participated in numerous multinational exercises, demonstrating her versatility and combat readiness.

USS Weiss (APD-135) was a Crosley-class high-speed transport commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Originally laid down as a destroyer escort, she was converted during construction to serve as a fast transport for amphibious operations. Weiss participated in the final stages of World War II, supporting occupation landings in Japan and later assisting with minesweeping operations and troop transport duties in the Pacific. She continued to serve during the Korean War, providing valuable support for amphibious assaults and evacuation operations before being decommissioned in 1957.