USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)

USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1963. Named after the pivotal World War II battle, she served as a platform for helicopter-borne Marine assaults, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Notably, she was involved in the recovery of the Apollo 9 space capsule in 1969. After three decades of service, USS Guadalcanal was decommissioned in 1994, leaving a legacy of support for both military and humanitarian missions.