USS Pensacola (LSD-38)

• Commissioning: USS Pensacola (LSD-38) was commissioned on 27 March 1971, serving as the eighth ship in the Anchorage-class of dock landing ships. • Namesake: The ship was named after the city of Pensacola, Florida, which is known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation." • Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, Pensacola participated in the final years of the Vietnam War, supporting amphibious operations and providing logistical support. • Humanitarian Missions: Pensacola took part in several humanitarian missions, including support for Haitian and Cuban refugees during the 1980s. • Operation Earnest Will: In the late 1980s, the ship was deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will, protecting re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. • Desert Storm: Pensacola supported Operation Desert Storm in 1991, transporting Marines and equipment to the Persian Gulf for the liberation of Kuwait. • Joint Operations: The ship was involved in numerous joint and NATO exercises, enhancing cooperation with allied navies and marine forces. • Decommissioning: USS Pensacola was decommissioned on 30 September 1999, after nearly three decades of active service. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, the ship was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise off the coast of North Carolina in 2008. • Crest Symbolism: The ship's crest incorporated imagery representing its home city, amphibious mission, and naval heritage, including an alligator (for Florida) and crossed tridents.