USS Dewey (DLG-14, later DDG-45)

• Namesake Legacy: USS Dewey (DLG-14, later DDG-45) was named in honor of Admiral George Dewey, the hero of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. • Class and Commissioning: She was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer, commissioned on December 7, 1959, at Bath, Maine. • First of Her Kind: USS Dewey was the first ship in the U.S. Navy specifically built from the keel up as a guided missile frigate (DLG) before being reclassified as a guided missile destroyer (DDG) in 1975. • Cuban Missile Crisis: Dewey played a critical role as part of the naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, helping enforce the quarantine of Cuba. • Vietnam War Service: The ship served multiple deployments in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support, search and rescue operations, and screening for aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Recovery Missions: Dewey participated in several space capsule recovery missions, including support for the Gemini and Apollo programs, showcasing her versatility beyond combat roles. • Flagship Duties: At various times, she served as the flagship for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 6, demonstrating her importance in fleet operations. • Technological Advancements: Dewey was one of the first U.S. Navy ships equipped with the Tartar surface-to-air missile system, representing a leap in naval air defense capability. • Decommissioning and Fate: After almost 30 years of service, Dewey was decommissioned on August 19, 1990, and was eventually scrapped in 1994. • Honors and Awards: Throughout her service, USS Dewey earned numerous awards, including several Navy Unit Commendations and campaign medals for her part in Cold War and Vietnam-era operations.