DD:DDE 827 ROBERT A. OWENS

• Namesake Heroism: USS Robert A. Owens (DD/DDE-827) was named after Sergeant Robert A. Owens, a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Battle of Bougainville in World War II. • Gearing-class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, the last and most numerous class of destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. • Commissioning: She was commissioned on November 5, 1949, at Bath, Maine, after being laid down in 1945 and launched in 1946. • Hunter-Killer Role: Originally built as a destroyer, she was soon converted to a destroyer escort (DDE), specializing in anti-submarine warfare during the height of the Cold War. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Robert A. Owens participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in October 1962, helping to enforce the quarantine against Soviet ships. • Technological Upgrades: The ship received extensive upgrades during her service, including advanced sonar and anti-submarine weapon systems, and was reclassified back to DD-827 in 1962. • Mediterranean Deployments: She frequently deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, supporting NATO operations and serving as a visible symbol of U.S. commitment to European allies. • Space Mission Support: Robert A. Owens participated in recovery operations for NASA’s Mercury and Gemini space missions, standing by as a possible astronaut recovery ship. • Vietnam War Service: The destroyer served in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support and screening aircraft carriers from 1967 to 1972. • Final Fate: After decommissioning in 1982, the ship was transferred to Turkey and served as TGC Alcitepe (D 346) until 1999, extending her legacy in a NATO ally’s navy.