USS RICH DD820

• Namesake: USS Rich (DD-820) was named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) Ralph McMaster Rich, a Navy fighter pilot awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions at the Battle of Midway in World War II. • Commissioning: The USS Rich was commissioned on 3 July 1946, at the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. • Gearing-class Destroyer: She was a Gearing-class destroyer, part of the largest class of destroyers built for the US Navy during World War II. • Korean War Service: USS Rich served with distinction during the Korean War, performing escort, patrol, and bombardment missions in support of United Nations forces. • Cuban Missile Crisis: In October 1962, Rich participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval quarantine, helping to enforce the blockade of Cuba. • FRAM Overhaul: The ship underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade in the early 1960s, receiving advanced sonar, anti-submarine weapons, and helicopter facilities. • Vietnam War: Rich was deployed to the Vietnam War, where she provided naval gunfire support for ground forces and engaged in search and rescue operations. • Mid-East Force Deployment: In 1974, USS Rich was deployed as part of the US Middle East Force, patrolling the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean during a period of regional unrest. • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on 10 December 1977 after more than 30 years of service and was later sold for scrap in 1988. • Legacy: Throughout her career, USS Rich earned multiple battle stars and awards, and her crew formed a strong legacy, maintaining an active veterans association to this day.