USS CHARLES S. SPERRY ( DD 697 )

• Namesake: USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) was named after Rear Admiral Charles Stillman Sperry, a prominent U.S. Navy officer who commanded the Great White Fleet during its world voyage (1907–1909). • Class and Type: She was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and versatile classes of World War II. • Commissioning: The ship was launched on 13 March 1944 and commissioned on 17 May 1944 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. • World War II Service: Charles S. Sperry participated in key Pacific campaigns, including the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing anti-aircraft and shore bombardment support. • Kamikaze Attack: On 14 April 1945, while off Okinawa, the ship assisted in rescuing survivors from USS Pringle (DD-477), which had been sunk by a kamikaze attack. • Post-War Operations: After WWII, she was involved in the occupation of Japan, screening carriers and supporting minesweeping operations in Japanese waters. • Korean War Service: Charles S. Sperry served three tours during the Korean War, conducting shore bombardment, screening carriers, and patrolling the Taiwan Strait. • FRAM Modernization: In 1959–60, she underwent Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrades, which improved her anti-submarine warfare capabilities and extended her service life. • Cuban Missile Crisis: The destroyer participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade in 1962, helping enforce the quarantine of Cuba. • Decommissioning and Fate: Charles S. Sperry was decommissioned on 15 December 1973 and sold to the Republic of Chile, where she served as Ministro Zenteno (D-16) until 1990.