USS Oldendorf (DD-972)

USS Oldendorf (DD-972) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on March 4, 1978. Named after Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, the ship served in various capacities, including anti-submarine warfare, surface action groups, and carrier battle group escort duties. Oldendorf participated in significant operations such as Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War and supported coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After over two decades of service, the destroyer was decommissioned on June 20, 2003, and was later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2005.