USS Agerholm (DD-826)

• Namesake Honor: USS Agerholm (DD-826) was named after Private First Class Harold Crist Agerholm, a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Saipan in World War II. • Gearing-class Destroyer: Agerholm was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and successful classes of destroyers built for the U.S. Navy, designed for fast, multi-role operations. • Commissioning: She was launched on September 10, 1945, by Bath Iron Works in Maine and commissioned on June 20, 1946, just after the end of World War II. • Operation Dominic: In 1962, USS Agerholm became the first ship to fire an anti-submarine rocket (ASROC) armed with a live nuclear depth charge during Operation Dominic, part of U.S. nuclear testing in the Pacific. • Korean War Service: During the Korean War, Agerholm saw active duty, providing naval gunfire support and screening aircraft carriers off the Korean coast. • Vietnam War Operations: The destroyer participated in multiple Vietnam War tours, including "Operation Sea Dragon" and "Operation Market Time," supporting naval gunfire and interdiction missions. • FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, she underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving upgraded anti-submarine capabilities, radar, and sonar systems. • Collision Incident: In 1970, Agerholm collided with the USS Oriskany (CV-34) in foggy conditions near the coast of California, causing minor damage but no serious injuries. • Rescue Missions: Throughout her service, Agerholm was involved in several search and rescue operations, notably rescuing downed pilots in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Agerholm was decommissioned on December 1, 1978, and later sunk as a target during a fleet exercise in 1982, ending her distinguished naval career.