Turner Joy DD951

• Namesake: USS Turner Joy (DD-951) was named after Admiral Charles Turner Joy, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer who served in both World Wars and was chief U.S. negotiator during the Korean War armistice talks. • Commissioning: The Turner Joy was commissioned on August 3, 1959, at Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Company in Seattle, Washington. • Class: She was the last of the 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers built for the U.S. Navy, designed as all-gun destroyers before the missile age. • Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Turner Joy played a pivotal role in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964, an event that escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She, along with USS Maddox, reported being attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. • Vietnam War Service: The ship conducted multiple combat tours off Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and anti-submarine patrols. • First Enemy Engagements: During the Vietnam War, she was among the first U.S. Navy ships to engage enemy forces directly, firing her 5-inch guns in support of ground troops. • Survived Multiple Attacks: Turner Joy survived several hostile engagements, including shore battery attacks and threats from small craft, without suffering major damage. • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on November 22, 1982, after 23 years of service. • Museum Ship: Today, Turner Joy is preserved as a museum ship in Bremerton, Washington, where visitors can tour the vessel and learn about its history. • Battle Stars: For her Vietnam War service, Turner Joy earned nine battle stars, marking her as one of the more decorated destroyers of the conflict.