USS Francis Hammond (DE-1067)

• Namesake Heroism: USS Francis Hammond (DE-1067) was named after Francis Colton Hammond, a Hospitalman who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Korean War, where he sacrificed his life to save wounded Marines. • Knox-Class Frigate: Originally designated as a destroyer escort (DE), the ship was part of the Knox-class, which were later reclassified as frigates (FF) in 1975 by the U.S. Navy. • Commissioning Date: USS Francis Hammond was commissioned on 25 July 1970 at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California. • Vietnam War Service: The ship participated in Vietnam War operations, providing naval gunfire support, plane guard duties, and escort missions for U.S. carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Operation Frequent Wind: In April 1975, Francis Hammond assisted in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon during the fall of South Vietnam. • ASW Capabilities: Designed primarily for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), the ship was equipped with the SQS-26 sonar and ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) systems, as well as a SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS helicopter. • Notable Rescue: In 1974, the ship rescued 13 crew members of a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter that crashed in the South China Sea, earning commendations for the crew. • Homeport: USS Francis Hammond was homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for most of its service, contributing to Pacific Fleet operations. • Decommissioning and Transfer: The ship was decommissioned on 2 July 1992 and later transferred to Turkey, where she served as TCG Derya (F-247) until being scrapped. • Decorations: The ship and its crew received several awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and multiple campaign and service medals for Vietnam operations.