USS Waldron (DD-699)

• Namesake: USS Waldron (DD-699) was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron, a naval aviator who led Torpedo Squadron 8 during the Battle of Midway and was killed in action. • Class: The ship was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, featuring improved armament and anti-aircraft capabilities over earlier classes. • Commissioning: USS Waldron was commissioned on 7 June 1944, in the midst of World War II. • World War II Service: She participated in operations in the Pacific Theater, including supporting the landings at Leyte Gulf and Okinawa, and surviving several kamikaze attacks. • Battle Stars: Waldron earned five battle stars for her World War II service, recognizing her participation in major combat operations. • Korean War Involvement: Reactivated for the Korean War, USS Waldron provided naval gunfire support and screened aircraft carriers off the Korean coast. • Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, Waldron was deployed to the Caribbean as part of the US naval quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis. • Vietnam War Operations: She served as a plane guard and provided gunfire support during the Vietnam War, highlighting her versatility across conflicts. • Decommissioning and Transfer: USS Waldron was decommissioned from US service in 1973 and transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy, where she served as ROCS Han Yang (DD-915). • Long Service Life: The ship had a remarkable service life, serving actively for nearly 30 years with the US Navy and continued operations with Taiwan into the 1990s.