USS David R Ray DD-971

USS David R. Ray (DD-971) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on November 19, 1977. Named after Hospital Corpsman Second Class David R. Ray, a Medal of Honor recipient, the ship served with distinction in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her service, David R. Ray conducted numerous deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf, participating in operations such as Operation Earnest Will and supporting multinational exercises. The destroyer was decommissioned on February 28, 2002, after nearly 25 years of service, and was later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2008.