USN

Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, located at North West Cape in Western Australia, was commissioned in 1967 as a joint United States-Australian facility. Its primary mission was to provide very low frequency (VLF) radio communications to United States and Royal Australian Navy submarines operating in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. The base featured a powerful VLF transmitter and became a critical communications link during the Cold War era. In 1992, the station was transferred to full Australian control, though it continues to support allied defense communications today.

Naval Hospital Beaufort, located in South Carolina, was commissioned in 1949 to provide medical care for military personnel, retirees, and their families in the Lowcountry region. Originally established to support the nearby Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the hospital has played a crucial role in treating service members from multiple branches. Over the decades, Naval Hospital Beaufort has expanded its facilities and services, adapting to advances in military medicine and the evolving needs of the armed forces community. Today, it continues its legacy of care, serving as a key component of Navy Medicine in the southeastern United States.

Naval Magazine Guam, also known as NAVMAG Guam, was established during World War II following the U.S. liberation of Guam from Japanese forces in 1944. Originally constructed as an ammunition depot to support ongoing military operations in the Pacific Theater, it played a critical role in storing and supplying munitions for U.S. Navy and allied forces. Over the decades, NAVMAG Guam has continued to serve as a key logistics hub, providing ordnance storage, handling, and distribution capabilities for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Today, it remains an essential asset for regional security and U.S. military readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Naval Support Activity Mid-South, located in Millington, Tennessee, traces its origins to 1917 when it was established as Park Field, an Army Signal Corps training base during World War I. The installation was transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1942, becoming a major center for aviation technical training and personnel management. Over the decades, the base evolved into a crucial hub for Navy human resources, housing the Navy Personnel Command and other important administrative units. Today, NSA Mid-South plays a vital role in supporting the operational readiness and administrative needs of the U.S. Navy, serving thousands of military and civilian personnel.

USS **Sterett (DLG-31)** was a guided missile destroyer leader commissioned by the United States Navy on April 8, 1967. She served prominently during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, plane guard duties for carriers, and anti-air warfare defense. Throughout her service, Sterett earned multiple awards, including combat action ribbons and several campaign stars for her Vietnam operations. After nearly two decades of service, USS Sterett was decommissioned on March 24, 1994, marking the end of a distinguished naval career.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain was established in 1971 following the withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf, marking a pivotal transition in regional security. Initially serving as a small communications outpost, the installation rapidly expanded in strategic importance, especially after becoming the headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in 1995. Throughout its history, NSA Bahrain has supported a wide variety of naval operations, including maritime security, counter-piracy, and coalition efforts during Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Today, NSA Bahrain remains the primary U.S. Navy facility in the Middle East, playing a crucial role in ensuring stability and freedom of navigation in the region.

Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 1 (RVAH-1), known as the "Smokin' Tigers," was a United States Navy squadron established in November 1955. Originally designated as Heavy Attack Squadron 1 (VAH-1), the unit flew the A-3 Skywarrior before transitioning to the RA-5C Vigilante in 1964 and becoming RVAH-1. The squadron played a significant role in aerial reconnaissance during the Vietnam War, conducting high-risk photographic missions over hostile territory. RVAH-1 continued to serve through the Cold War era until it was disestablished in January 1979 as part of the phase-out of the Vigilante aircraft.

**USNR Fort McHenry** refers to U.S. Navy Reserve units associated with or stationed at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Fort McHenry, famous for its role in the War of 1812, later served various military purposes, including as a training and administrative center for naval reservists. During the 20th century, particularly in World War II and the Cold War era, USNR units at Fort McHenry provided essential logistical, medical, and training support for naval operations. The reserve activities at Fort McHenry contributed to the readiness and augmentation of the U.S. Navy, drawing on the region’s longstanding maritime heritage. Today, the legacy of USNR Fort McHenry endures as a testament to Baltimore’s continued support for the nation’s naval forces.

USS Ainsworth (FF-1090) was a Knox-class frigate commissioned into the United States Navy in 1973. Designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, she served extensively in the Atlantic Fleet, participating in numerous NATO exercises and deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Throughout her service, USS Ainsworth played a key role in Cold War operations, escort duties, and joint naval exercises with allied nations. She was decommissioned in 1994 and later transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Ege (F-256).