USS BENJAMIN STODDERT (DDG-22)

• Namesake: USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) was named after Benjamin Stoddert, the first United States Secretary of the Navy (1798–1801), who played a critical role in establishing the US Navy. • Class and Type: She was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer, designed during the Cold War to provide fleet air defense using the Tartar missile system. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on September 14, 1964, at Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Company in Seattle, Washington. • Vietnam War Service: Benjamin Stoddert served extensively during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, plane guard duty for aircraft carriers, and serving on the "gunline" off the coast of Vietnam. • Gulf of Tonkin Incident: She participated in operations following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964, which escalated US involvement in Vietnam. • Rescue Operations: The ship was involved in several search and rescue operations, including the rescue of downed aviators in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Achievements: The Benjamin Stoddert earned multiple awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and several Vietnam Service Medals. • Notable Crew: Among her crew was future NASA astronaut Charles D. Gemar, who served as a junior officer onboard in the 1970s. • Decommissioning and Fate: The ship was decommissioned on December 20, 1991, and eventually sunk as a target during a training exercise off Hawaii in 2001. • Legacy: Veterans and former crew members maintain active associations and reunions, preserving the ship's legacy and history through online communities and events.