USS Leftwich (DD 984)

• Named After a Hero: USS Leftwich (DD-984) was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William G. Leftwich, Jr., a Marine Corps officer posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the Vietnam War. • Spruance-Class Destroyer: The ship was part of the Spruance-class, a class of destroyers designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but later adapted for other roles. • Commissioned in 1979: USS Leftwich was commissioned on August 25, 1979, at the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. • Gulf War Service: Leftwich participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, providing escort and screening services for aircraft carriers and launching Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraqi targets. • First Tomahawk Launch: During Operation Desert Storm, USS Leftwich was among the first ships to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles in combat. • Collision Incident: On June 9, 1982, Leftwich collided with the submarine USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) during exercises off the coast of California, but both vessels were able to return to port for repairs. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship also took part in humanitarian operations, including rescuing Vietnamese refugees ("boat people") in the South China Sea during the early 1980s. • Advanced Technology: Leftwich was equipped with the latest sonar, radar, and weapons technology of its time, including the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for missiles. • Decommissioned in 1998: After nearly 20 years of service, USS Leftwich was decommissioned on March 28, 1998, and later scrapped. • Battle Efficiency Award: The ship earned the coveted Battle "E" award multiple times, recognizing its excellence in combat readiness and overall performance.