USS Stump (DD-978)

• Namesake: USS Stump (DD-978) was named after Admiral Felix Stump, a decorated naval aviator and commander who served notably during World War II and later as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command. • Spruance-Class Destroyer: The ship was a Spruance-class destroyer, a class designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but with extensive capabilities in anti-air and surface warfare. • Commissioning: USS Stump was commissioned on 19 August 1978 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, and was constructed by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries. • Maiden Deployment: The ship's first deployment was to the Middle East in 1980 as part of the U.S. response to the Iranian Hostage Crisis. • First Tomahawk Launch: In 1986, USS Stump became the first Atlantic Fleet destroyer to fire a Tomahawk cruise missile during operational tests. • Drug Interdiction Operations: During the late 1980s and 1990s, Stump was heavily engaged in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, seizing significant quantities of illegal drugs. • Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: The ship deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s, providing escort and maritime interdiction operations. • Rescue Missions: USS Stump notably rescued several civilian mariners during her deployments, including dramatic rescues of stranded fishermen in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. • Decommissioning: USS Stump was decommissioned on 22 October 2004 after over 26 years of service, and was sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2006. • Crest and Motto: The ship’s crest reflected Admiral Stump’s aviation background and Pacific service, while the motto "Courage, Honor, Perseverance" encapsulated both the Admiral’s and the ship’s spirit.