USS Sarsfield (DD-837)

• Namesake Honors: USS Sarsfield (DD-837) was named after Lt. Commander Eugene S. Sarsfield, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism at Tulagi during World War II. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on July 31, 1945, just weeks before the official end of World War II. • Gearing-Class Destroyer: Sarsfield was a Gearing-class destroyer, a class renowned for its versatility and service longevity throughout the Cold War era. • Operation Crossroads: In 1946, Sarsfield participated in Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, serving as a support vessel. • Korean War Service: She saw extensive service during the Korean War, providing gunfire support and serving on anti-submarine patrols. • FRAM I Modernization: In the early 1960s, Sarsfield underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM I) upgrade, receiving advanced anti-submarine warfare equipment including ASROC and DASH drone helicopters. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Sarsfield was part of the naval quarantine enforcing the blockade around Cuba. • Vietnam War Deployments: The destroyer made several deployments to Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and plane guard duties for aircraft carriers. • Space Program Support: Sarsfield served as a recovery ship for several NASA missions, including Gemini and Apollo, stationed in the Atlantic to recover astronauts and capsules if needed. • Foreign Service and Fate: After decommissioning from U.S. service in 1977, Sarsfield was transferred to the Mexican Navy, where she served as ARM Comodoro Manuel Azueta (D-111) until 2001.