USS New (DD-818)

• Namesake: USS New (DD-818) was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander James New, a decorated World War II naval officer who was killed in action during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands in 1942. • Class: It was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the longest-serving classes in the US Navy, designed for improved endurance and anti-submarine capabilities. • Commissioning: USS New was commissioned on April 5, 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, and was built at the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. • Korean War Service: The ship was deployed to the Korean Peninsula, supporting United Nations forces with shore bombardment, screening for aircraft carriers, and anti-submarine operations. • FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, USS New underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving advanced sonar and anti-submarine weapons, including the ASROC launcher. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS New participated in the naval quarantine of Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, helping enforce the blockade against Soviet ships. • Mediterranean Deployments: The destroyer made multiple deployments with the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, participating in NATO exercises and supporting American interests during the Cold War. • Vietnam War: USS New served in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support for ground troops and performing search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Awarded Honors: Over its long service, the ship earned several battle stars and commendations for its performance in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. • Decommissioning and Transfer: USS New was decommissioned from US Navy service on July 1, 1976, and was transferred to South Korea, where it served as ROKS Taejon (DD-917) until 1999.