USS ALFRED A. CUNNINGHAN (DD-752)

• Namesake Hero: USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) was named in honor of First Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunningham, the first Marine Corps aviator and a pioneer in Marine aviation. • Class and Launch: She was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, launched on August 3, 1944, by Bethlehem Steel Co. in Staten Island, New York. • WWII Service: The destroyer joined the Pacific Fleet in late 1944 and participated in the final stages of World War II, including operations off Okinawa and in support of airstrikes against the Japanese mainland. • Kamikaze Encounters: While screening carriers off Okinawa in 1945, USS Alfred A. Cunningham faced numerous kamikaze attacks and helped shoot down several enemy aircraft. • Korean War Action: The ship served multiple tours during the Korean War, providing shore bombardment, screening aircraft carriers, and performing blockade duties along the Korean coast. • Vietnam War Deployments: USS Alfred A. Cunningham served extensively during the Vietnam War, conducting gunfire support missions and participating in search and rescue operations. • Rescue Missions: In 1966, Cunningham played a vital role in rescuing downed American pilots off the coast of North Vietnam, earning accolades for her crew’s bravery. • Modernization: The destroyer received a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade in the early 1960s, enhancing her anti-submarine warfare capabilities. • Decorations: Over her career, USS Alfred A. Cunningham earned eight battle stars for World War II, two for the Korean War, and five for the Vietnam War. • Decommission and Fate: After 28 years of service, the ship was decommissioned on February 24, 1971, and eventually sunk as a target during naval exercises in 1979.