USS Jonas Ingram (DD 938)

• Namesake: USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938) was named after Admiral Jonas H. Ingram, a Medal of Honor recipient and a distinguished World War II naval commander. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 19 July 1957 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, with Commander P. D. Williams as her first commanding officer. • Forrest Sherman-class: USS Jonas Ingram was part of the Forrest Sherman-class of destroyers, which were the first US Navy destroyers designed and built after World War II. • Shakedown Cruise: Shortly after commissioning, the destroyer conducted her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean and visited South American ports, strengthening US relations during the Cold War. • Space Program Support: Jonas Ingram served as a recovery ship for the Project Mercury space missions, including the recovery of astronaut Alan Shepard after his historic 1961 flight. • Lebanon Crisis 1958: The ship participated in the US intervention in Lebanon by providing naval presence and support to stabilize the region. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, USS Jonas Ingram was deployed to the Western Pacific, providing naval gunfire support and serving on Yankee Station. • Goodwill Missions: The destroyer conducted goodwill visits and exercises with allied navies in Europe, Africa, and South America, promoting international cooperation. • Decommissioning: After over two decades of service, the ship was decommissioned on 4 March 1983 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. • Final Fate: USS Jonas Ingram was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise off the Virginia coast in August 1988, ending her service with the US Navy.