USS Robert K Huntington (DD-781)

• Namesake Hero: USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781) was named in honor of Private Robert Kingsbury Huntington, a US Marine who posthumously received the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. • Gearing-Class Destroyer: The ship belonged to the Gearing-class, the largest class of destroyers built for the US Navy during World War II, known for their improved endurance and anti-aircraft capabilities. • Launched in 1945: The destroyer was launched on January 5, 1945, by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, and commissioned on March 3, 1945, just months before the end of World War II. • Missed WWII Combat: Despite her wartime construction, USS Robert K. Huntington did not see combat action in World War II, as the war ended shortly after her commissioning. • Korean War Service: The ship served actively during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support, anti-submarine warfare patrols, and screening for aircraft carriers. • FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, she underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade, which extended her service life and equipped her with anti-submarine rockets (ASROC) and improved sonar. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, USS Robert K. Huntington was deployed as part of the naval quarantine, helping to enforce the blockade of Cuba. • Vietnam War Deployments: The destroyer saw Vietnam War service, providing gunfire support for ground forces, search and rescue, and carrier escort duties in the Tonkin Gulf. • Collision at Sea: In July 1959, she collided with USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) off the coast of Virginia during night exercises, resulting in significant damage but no loss of life. • Decommissioned and Fate: USS Robert K. Huntington was decommissioned on September 31, 1973, and later expended as a target ship in naval exercises in 1981.