USS Cotton (DD-669)

• Namesake: USS Cotton (DD-669) was named in honor of Joseph P. Cotton, a distinguished US Navy officer who served during World War I and died in 1929. • Class: She was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most famous and numerous destroyer classes of World War II. • Commissioning: The USS Cotton was launched on 19 June 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, and commissioned on 28 August 1943. • Pacific Theater Service: Cotton served extensively in the Pacific during World War II, participating in major campaigns including the Marianas, Philippines, and Okinawa operations. • Battle Stars: She earned eight battle stars for her service in World War II, a testament to her active participation in key naval battles. • Kamikaze Attacks: During the Okinawa campaign, Cotton faced the threat of kamikaze attacks, a deadly hazard for US Navy ships in the closing months of the war. • Rescue Operations: Cotton participated in numerous rescue operations, saving sailors from damaged or sinking ships during intense combat. • Post-War Service: After World War II, USS Cotton was decommissioned in 1946 but was recommissioned in 1951 for service during the Korean War and Cold War era. • International Service: After her US Navy career, she was transferred to Spain in 1968 and served as Almirante Ferrándiz (D22) in the Spanish Navy until 1987. • Legacy: The USS Cotton is remembered for her resilience, the valor of her crew, and her contributions during pivotal moments of 20th-century naval warfare.