USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5)

• Namesake Honor: USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) was named in honor of Admiral Claude V. Ricketts, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and played a key role during the Cold War era. • Originally USS Biddle: The ship was originally commissioned as USS Biddle (DDG-5) in 1962 but was renamed in 1964 to honor Admiral Ricketts after his death. • Charles F. Adams-class: DDG-5 was a member of the Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyers, the first class of guided missile destroyers built for the U.S. Navy. • Mixed Manning Experiment: From 1964 to 1965, USS Claude V. Ricketts participated in the "Mixed Manning Demonstration," with a crew composed of personnel from the U.S., UK, West Germany, Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands as part of the NATO Multilateral Force (MLF) project. • First NATO Multinational Ship: The ship became the first U.S. Navy vessel to operate with a truly multinational crew and fly the NATO flag, symbolizing international cooperation. • Cuban Missile Crisis: As USS Biddle, she was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, serving as part of the U.S. naval blockade of Cuba. • Vietnam War Service: USS Claude V. Ricketts served in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support and participating in operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Rescue Operations: The ship was involved in several rescue operations at sea, including saving the crew of the Greek freighter SS Ioannis K in 1970. • Cold War Deployments: Throughout her career, the destroyer conducted numerous deployments in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, often tracking Soviet naval vessels and submarines. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Claude V. Ricketts was decommissioned in 1989 after 27 years of service and was sold for scrap in 1994, marking the end of her illustrious naval career.