USS BROWNSON (DD-868)

• Namesake: USS Brownson (DD-868) was named after Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. • Gearing-class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and advanced classes of destroyers built during and after World War II. • Launch and Commission: Brownson was launched on 7 July 1945 by the Bethlehem Steel Company in Staten Island, New York, and commissioned on 17 November 1945. • Cold War Service: The destroyer served extensively during the Cold War, participating in numerous NATO exercises and deployments in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. • Korean War Era: Although commissioned too late for World War II, Brownson was active during the Korean War, providing support for United Nations forces. • FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, Brownson underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, receiving updated anti-submarine warfare capabilities and new electronics. • Cuban Missile Crisis: Brownson was part of the U.S. naval forces enforcing the blockade (quarantine) during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. • Rescue Operations: The ship participated in several rescue operations at sea, including assisting distressed merchant ships and rescuing downed aviators. • Decommissioning: USS Brownson was decommissioned on 30 September 1976 after over 30 years of service and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1976. • International Service: After her U.S. service, Brownson was transferred to the Hellenic Navy of Greece in 1977, where she served as Navarinon (D63) until her final decommissioning.