USN

USS Fresno (LST-1182) was a Newport-class tank landing ship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1969. Designed for rapid loading and unloading of tanks, vehicles, and troops, she served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her career, USS Fresno participated in numerous amphibious operations, training exercises, and humanitarian missions, including deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. After over two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1993 and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS Koelsch (FF-1049) was a Garcia-class frigate commissioned into the United States Navy in 1967. Named after Lieutenant (jg) John Kelvin Koelsch, a Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, the ship primarily performed anti-submarine warfare (ASW) duties during the Cold War. Throughout her service, Koelsch participated in numerous NATO exercises, Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, and supported search and rescue operations. Decommissioned in 1989, she was later transferred to the Pakistani Navy, where she served as PNS Siqqat until 1993.

USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) was the lead ship of her class of fleet ballistic missile submarines in the United States Navy. Commissioned on April 23, 1963, she played a key role in the nation's strategic deterrent during the Cold War, conducting numerous deterrent patrols armed with Polaris and later Poseidon ballistic missiles. Lafayette operated primarily out of Holy Loch, Scotland, and later Kings Bay, Georgia, ensuring a continuous at-sea deterrent presence. The submarine was decommissioned on August 12, 1991, after nearly three decades of service and was eventually recycled through the Navy’s Ship-Submarine Recycling Program.

USS Little Rock (CL-92) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser commissioned by the United States Navy in June 1945, near the end of World War II. Although she missed combat in WWII, Little Rock served with the Atlantic Fleet, participating in training cruises and goodwill missions during the early Cold War years. In the late 1950s, she was converted to a guided missile cruiser (CLG-4/CG-4), equipped with the Talos missile system, and became flagship for the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. Decommissioned in 1976, USS Little Rock now serves as a museum ship at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York.

USS **Semmes (DDG-18)** was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on December 10, 1962. Named after Confederate Navy officer Raphael Semmes, the ship served prominently during the Cold War, participating in NATO exercises, Mediterranean deployments, and Atlantic operations. Semmes was equipped with advanced missile systems for air defense and anti-submarine warfare, reflecting the technological advancements of her era. After nearly three decades of service, she was decommissioned on April 14, 1991, and later transferred to the Hellenic Navy of Greece, where she served as **Kimon**.

Strike Fighter Squadron VA-174 "Hellrazors" was a distinguished U.S. Navy attack squadron originally established as VBF-81 in 1944. The squadron underwent several redesignations, becoming VA-174 in 1966 and earning a reputation as the Navy’s premier fleet replacement squadron for the A-7 Corsair II aircraft. Throughout its service, VA-174 was instrumental in training thousands of Navy and Marine Corps pilots and maintenance personnel, ensuring fleet readiness during the Vietnam War and Cold War eras. The squadron was based at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, until it was disestablished on 30 September 1988.

Attack Squadron 42 (VA-42), known as the "Green Pawns," was established on 1 September 1950. Originally based at NAS Oceana, the squadron served as a fleet replacement training unit, preparing aviators and maintenance crews for carrier-based attack operations. VA-42 played a key role in introducing and training personnel on the A-6 Intruder, a pioneering all-weather attack aircraft, beginning in the early 1960s. The squadron was disestablished on 30 September 1994 after over four decades of distinguished service to the U.S. Navy.

Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), known as the “Lancers,” was originally established as Patrol Squadron 931 (VP-931) in 1946, redesignated as VAQ-131 in 1968. The squadron initially operated as an electronic warfare unit flying the EA-6B Prowler, and later transitioned to the EA-18G Growler. VAQ-131 has a distinguished history of providing airborne electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses, participating in major operations such as Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Today, the Lancers continue their legacy of excellence, supporting U.S. Navy and joint-force operations worldwide.

Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2), also known as the "Bounty Hunters," is a distinguished United States Navy fighter squadron originally established on October 14, 1972. VF-2 was first equipped with the F-14A Tomcat and deployed aboard the USS Enterprise, participating in operations including the Vietnam War’s final stages and later Cold War missions. The squadron earned a reputation for excellence in air combat and fleet defense, notably during deployments in the Persian Gulf and Operation Desert Storm. In 1993, the unit was redesignated as VFA-2 and transitioned to flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet, continuing its legacy as a premier carrier-based strike fighter squadron.