Valdez ff1096

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About Valdez ff1096

**USS Valdez (FF-1096)** was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy, named in honor of Hospitalman Phil Isadore Valdez, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Vietnam War. The vessel was laid down on October 30, 1972, at Todd Shipyards, Los Angeles, and commissioned on July 27, 1974. Designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, the USS Valdez served extensively in the Atlantic Fleet, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including NATO operations and Mediterranean patrols during the Cold War. The ship was decommissioned on December 31, 1991, and later transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she continued service under a new name.

Unit Members

Doyle Taylor

U.S. Navy

Valdez ff1096View Profile

Scott Pastet

U.S. Navy

Valdez ff1096View Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About Valdez ff1096

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• USS Valdez (FF-1096) Namesake: The ship was named after PFC Oscar Valdez, a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the Korean War. • Knox-Class Frigate: USS Valdez was a Knox-class frigate, a class designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War era. • Commissioning: The vessel was commissioned on August 26, 1972, at the Avondale Shipyards near New Orleans, Louisiana. • Vietnam War Service: Although she was commissioned near the end of the Vietnam War, the USS Valdez participated in various operations and exercises in the Western Pacific. • Namesake's Valor: Oscar Valdez was killed in action in Korea in 1951 after single-handedly attacking enemy positions to save his platoon. • Naval Exercises: During her service, Valdez participated in major international exercises, including NATO operations and joint exercises with allied navies. • Anti-Submarine Technology: The ship was equipped with advanced sonar and ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) systems, making her a formidable submarine hunter. • Homeport: For most of her career, Valdez was homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, and later in Charleston, South Carolina. • Decommissioning: USS Valdez was decommissioned on March 31, 1991, after nearly 19 years of service during the height of the Cold War. • Transfer to Turkey: After her decommissioning, the ship was transferred to the Turkish Navy in 1993, where she served as TCG Adatepe (F-251) until 2001.