USS Salem (CA-139)

The USS **Salem (CA-139)** was a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the United States Navy in May 1949. Serving primarily with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean during the early years of the Cold War, Salem acted as flagship for both the 6th Fleet and the 2nd Fleet. Though she never saw combat, the ship participated in numerous NATO exercises and displayed American naval power during periods of international tension. Decommissioned in 1959, USS Salem is now a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts, preserving her Cold War legacy for future generations.