USS Massey (DD-778)

• Namesake: USS Massey (DD-778) was named after Lance Corporal Lance E. Massey, a Navy pilot who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroic actions during the Battle of Midway in 1942. • Fletcher-class Destroyer: The ship was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most successful classes of destroyers used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. • Commissioning: USS Massey was commissioned on 24 November 1944 at the Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington. • World War II Service: The ship participated in the Battle of Okinawa, providing anti-aircraft screening and fire support during the final major battle of the Pacific campaign. • Kamikaze Attack: During the Okinawa campaign, Massey shot down several Japanese kamikaze aircraft, contributing to the defense of the fleet. • Korean War Deployment: USS Massey was recommissioned for service in the Korean War, where she operated as part of Task Force 77, conducting shore bombardment and anti-submarine patrols. • Cold War Patrols: Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Massey was active in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in NATO exercises and showing the flag during the Cold War. • Cuban Missile Crisis: Massey was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, helping to enforce the naval "quarantine" of Cuba. • Vietnam War: The destroyer was deployed to Vietnam, where she provided naval gunfire support and participated in "Operation Sea Dragon" against North Vietnamese logistics. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Massey was decommissioned on 23 September 1972 and sold for scrap in 1974, ending nearly three decades of distinguished service.