USS Thorn (DD-988)

• Spruance-class Destroyer: USS Thorn (DD-988) was a Spruance-class destroyer, a class designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but also capable of surface and air engagements. • Namesake: The ship was named after Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn, a U.S. Navy officer who served during the First Barbary War and the War of 1812. • Keel Laid and Commissioned: The keel was laid on August 29, 1977, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and she was commissioned on February 16, 1980. • Cold War Service: Thorn served during the tense final years of the Cold War, conducting operations and exercises in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. • Operation Desert Storm: During the Gulf War in 1991, USS Thorn was deployed to the Persian Gulf, providing escort for coalition naval forces and enforcing maritime embargoes against Iraq. • Rescue Operations: In 1988, Thorn rendered assistance to the burning tanker OT Southern in the Caribbean, conducting firefighting and rescue operations. • Tomahawk Capability: Thorn was equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, giving her significant land-attack capability—a notable advancement for destroyers of her era. • Counter-Narcotics Missions: In the 1990s, Thorn participated in numerous counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, seizing several tons of illegal drugs. • Decommissioning: After over 23 years of service, USS Thorn was decommissioned on August 25, 2004, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in July 2006. • Legacy: USS Thorn earned several awards during her career, including the Navy Unit Commendation, and was remembered for her versatile service and dedicated crews.