USS Dennis J Buckley (DD-808)

• Namesake Hero: USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD-808) was named after Seaman Dennis Joseph Buckley, Jr., a U.S. Navy sailor killed in action during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay in World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery. • Gearing-class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and advanced classes of destroyers built for the US Navy during World War II. • Commissioned During WWII: USS Dennis J. Buckley was commissioned on March 2, 1945, just months before the end of World War II. • PACIFIC THEATER: She served in the Pacific during the final stages of WWII, participating in convoy escort and occupation duties in the Far East. • Cold War Service: After WWII, Dennis J. Buckley continued service during the Cold War era, participating in multiple NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments. • Korean War Duties: The destroyer was deployed to the Korean Peninsula and performed blockade, escort, and patrol duties during the Korean War. • Operation Argus: In 1958, she participated in Operation Argus, a secret series of high-altitude nuclear tests in the South Atlantic, providing security and support. • Vietnam War Service: USS Dennis J. Buckley saw service in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and patrol missions. • FRAM Overhaul: The destroyer underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul in the 1960s, which extended her operational life and upgraded her anti-submarine warfare capabilities. • Decommissioning and Fate: Dennis J. Buckley was decommissioned on July 2, 1973, and was sold for scrap in 1974, marking the end of nearly three decades of distinguished service.