USS ARCADIA (AD-23)

• Namesake: USS Arcadia (AD-23) was named after the town of Arcadia, Rhode Island, continuing the tradition of naming destroyer tenders after American towns. • Class: She was a Dixie-class destroyer tender, designed to provide maintenance, repair, and logistics support to destroyers and other smaller warships. • World War II Service: Commissioned on September 13, 1945, Arcadia missed combat in World War II but was quickly assigned to support the occupation forces in the Pacific. • Cold War Operations: Throughout the Cold War, Arcadia served with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, supporting destroyers and other vessels with repairs, supplies, and technical services. • Homeports: Her homeports included San Diego, California, and later Newport, Rhode Island, reflecting her changing operational focus between the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Arcadia played a key support role, assisting U.S. Navy ships enforcing the quarantine of Cuba. • Vietnam War Support: Although she did not directly deploy to the Vietnam combat zone, Arcadia provided crucial logistical and repair support to ships rotating to and from Southeast Asia. • Women at Sea: In the 1970s, Arcadia was among the first U.S. Navy ships to embark female sailors as part of the Navy's efforts to integrate women into shipboard roles. • Decommissioning: After nearly 30 years of service, USS Arcadia was decommissioned on June 13, 1973, and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register. • Legacy: The ship's bell and artifacts are preserved in museums and naval memorials, symbolizing decades of behind-the-scenes service that kept the U.S. fleet operational.