USS Dealey (DE-1006)

• First of Her Class: USS Dealey (DE-1006) was the lead ship of the Dealey-class destroyer escorts, the first class of US Navy destroyer escorts built after World War II. • Named After a Hero: The ship was named in honor of Commander Samuel D. Dealey, a Medal of Honor recipient and one of the most successful American submarine commanders of World War II. • Launch and Commission: USS Dealey was launched on 8 November 1953 by Bath Iron Works in Maine and commissioned on 3 June 1954. • Cold War Service: She served primarily during the Cold War, focusing on anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic Ocean and participating in NATO exercises. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Dealey took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade in 1962, helping to enforce the quarantine of Cuba. • Rescue Operations: In May 1959, Dealey rescued the crew of the Portuguese fishing vessel Santa Maria, which had caught fire off the coast of Newfoundland. • Flagship Duties: She often served as flagship for Escort Squadron 10, leading groups of destroyer escorts in various operations. • Pioneering Sonar Technology: USS Dealey was equipped with cutting-edge sonar and anti-submarine weapons for her time and helped test and evaluate new systems. • International Goodwill: She made several goodwill visits to European and South American ports, strengthening relations with allied navies. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Dealey was decommissioned on 28 July 1972 and sold for scrap in 1974, ending nearly two decades of service.