USS Okinawa (LPH-3)

• Namesake: USS Okinawa (LPH-3) was named after the Battle of Okinawa, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Pacific Theater during World War II. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 14 April 1962, serving as an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship (helicopter). • Vietnam War Service: USS Okinawa played a significant role in the Vietnam War, participating in numerous amphibious operations and evacuations, including Operation Eagle Pull (evacuation of Phnom Penh, 1975) and Operation Frequent Wind (evacuation of Saigon, 1975). • Apollo Recovery Missions: The ship served as the primary recovery vessel for Apollo 6 (1968), Apollo 15 (1971), and Apollo 17 (1972) space missions, recovering astronauts and space capsules from the Pacific Ocean. • First Vertical Assault Ship: USS Okinawa was among the first ships specifically designed for vertical assault using helicopters, providing rapid deployment of Marines and equipment ashore. • Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat, the Okinawa participated in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief operations in Southeast Asia. • Gulf War Involvement: In 1990-91, USS Okinawa deployed to the Persian Gulf, serving as the flagship for the Mine Countermeasures Group during Operation Desert Storm. • Vietnamese Boat People: In the late 1970s, the ship assisted in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees fleeing their country by boat after the fall of Saigon. • Decommissioning: USS Okinawa was decommissioned on 17 December 1992 after 30 years of service, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2002. • Nickname: The crew affectionately called the ship “The Mighty Oki,” a nod to its storied service history and the resilience of those who served aboard her.