USS Fife (DD-991)

• Namesake: USS Fife (DD-991) was named after Admiral James Fife, Jr., a distinguished World War II submarine commander and strategist. • Spruance-class Destroyer: Fife was a Spruance-class destroyer, a class designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but later modified for multi-mission capabilities. • Commissioning: USS Fife was commissioned on 31 May 1980 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, with Captain George H. Nettleton in command. • Humanitarian Role: In 1990, Fife played a significant humanitarian role by rescuing Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea, saving dozens of lives. • Operation Desert Storm: Fife was deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where she provided escort and maritime interdiction support. • Tomahawk Missiles: During upgrades in the late 1980s, Fife was fitted with Tomahawk cruise missile launchers, enhancing her strike capabilities. • Decommissioning: After over 22 years of service, USS Fife was decommissioned on 28 February 2003 and later sunk as a target in 2005. • Multinational Exercises: Fife participated in numerous multinational exercises, including RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific), strengthening interoperability with allied navies. • Homeport: For most of her career, Fife was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, serving as part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. • Legacy: USS Fife earned multiple awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation and the Humanitarian Service Medal, highlighting her service and humanitarian contributions.