USN

**USS Guadalupe (AO-32)** was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in June 1941. Throughout World War II, Guadalupe played a vital role in logistical support, refueling warships during major Pacific campaigns such as the Battles of Midway, the Marianas, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa. The ship continued to serve during the Korean War and Vietnam War, providing essential at-sea replenishment to U.S. and allied naval forces. After decades of distinguished service, USS Guadalupe was decommissioned in September 1974 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1976.

USS Gurke (DD-783) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned in May 1945. Named after Marine Private Henry Gurke, a Medal of Honor recipient, the ship served late in World War II and saw extensive action during the Korean War, providing gunfire support and screening carrier task forces. During the Vietnam War, Gurke participated in naval gunfire missions and patrol operations along the Vietnamese coast. After decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1976 and later transferred to the Hellenic Navy of Greece, where she served as Tombazis (D-215) until her retirement.

USS Holder (DD-819) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy on May 18, 1946. Named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) Randolph Mitchell Holder, she served primarily during the Cold War era, participating in various Atlantic and Mediterranean operations to support American and NATO interests. The ship conducted anti-submarine warfare patrols, training exercises, and numerous goodwill visits with allied navies. After nearly three decades of service, USS Holder was decommissioned in 1976 and subsequently transferred to the Ecuadorian Navy, where she continued service as BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro (D-01).

USS Hollister (DD-788) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1946. Named after Lieutenant Commander Stephen Decatur Hollister, she served with distinction during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support and screening carrier task forces. The ship also saw action during the Vietnam War, where she conducted patrols and naval bombardments along the coast. USS Hollister remained active throughout the Cold War era, participating in various exercises and operations until her decommissioning in 1979.

USS Hopper (DDG-70) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy, commissioned on September 6, 1997. Named in honor of Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist, the ship has played a key role in both Pacific and Middle Eastern operations. USS Hopper has participated in numerous multinational exercises, ballistic missile defense missions, and freedom of navigation operations, particularly in the Western Pacific and South China Sea. The destroyer has also been deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, showcasing its versatility and advanced combat systems.

USS Jack (SSN-605) was a Permit-class nuclear-powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. Commissioned on March 31, 1967, she was notable for her unique propulsion system that used counter-rotating propellers, a rare feature among submarines. Throughout her service during the Cold War, USS Jack conducted numerous classified operations and patrols, contributing to the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. She was decommissioned on July 11, 1990, after over two decades of service.

USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Throughout her service, Kittiwake played a vital role in supporting submarine operations, conducting rescue missions, and participating in fleet exercises during the Cold War era. She notably assisted in the recovery of the Challenger Space Shuttle debris in 1986 and took part in various search and recovery missions. After decommissioning in 1994, Kittiwake was intentionally sunk off Grand Cayman in 2011 to serve as an artificial reef and popular dive site.

USS Lexington (CV-16), nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," is an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the United States Navy in February 1943 during World War II. She participated in major Pacific Theater operations, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and multiple air strikes against Japanese forces. After World War II, Lexington was modernized and served as an attack carrier (CVA) and later as an antisubmarine carrier (CVS), before becoming a training carrier (CVT) in 1962. Decommissioned in 1991, USS Lexington now serves as a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.

USS Lofberg (DD-759) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in April 1945. Named in honor of Lieutenant Commander William Lofberg, the ship served in the final months of World War II and later saw extensive action during the Korean War, providing gunfire support, screening carriers, and participating in blockade operations. Throughout the Cold War, USS Lofberg operated in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleets, taking part in various training exercises and deployments, including patrols during the Vietnam War. Decommissioned in 1971, the ship was eventually transferred to the Peruvian Navy, where it served under the name BAP Capitan Quiñones.

USS Mahan (DLG-11), later reclassified as DDG-42, was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in 1960. Named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, the ship played a significant role in Cold War naval operations, including deployments to the Pacific and Vietnam, where she provided naval gunfire support and plane guard duties for aircraft carriers. Throughout her service, USS Mahan participated in numerous exercises and patrols, showcasing advancements in guided missile technology. She was decommissioned in 1993 after over three decades of distinguished service.

USS Maryland (SSBN 738) is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned into the United States Navy on June 13, 1992. Assigned to Submarine Squadron 20, she operates out of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, conducting strategic deterrent patrols. Over her service, Maryland has participated in numerous patrols supporting the nation's nuclear deterrence mission as part of the nuclear triad. The submarine has earned multiple awards for crew performance and operational readiness, reflecting her ongoing contribution to U.S. national security.

USS McFaul (DDG-74) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on April 25, 1998. Named after Chief Petty Officer Donald L. McFaul, a Navy SEAL killed in action during Operation Just Cause, the ship has supported a variety of missions, including counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and ballistic missile defense patrols. In 2009, McFaul played a key role in delivering humanitarian aid to Georgia following the Russo-Georgian War. The ship continues to serve as a vital asset in maintaining maritime security and projecting U.S. naval power worldwide.

USS Mountrail (APA-213) was a Haskell-class attack transport commissioned by the United States Navy in October 1944. She participated in World War II, most notably transporting troops and equipment during the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. After the war, Mountrail was involved in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating American servicemen from the Pacific. She was decommissioned in 1947, briefly recommissioned during the 1950s, and ultimately struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1968.

USS Mount Baker (T-AE-34) was a Kilauea-class ammunition ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy in July 1972. Designed to provide underway replenishment of munitions to combat ships at sea, she played a crucial logistical role in supporting naval operations, particularly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters. The vessel participated in numerous exercises, deployments, and operations, including support during Cold War contingencies and NATO exercises. After decades of distinguished service, USS Mount Baker was decommissioned and transferred to the Military Sealift Command in 1996, continuing her mission with a primarily civilian crew until her eventual retirement.

The USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) was a Benjamin Franklin-class fleet ballistic missile submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1964. Named after the Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene, she conducted numerous strategic deterrent patrols during the Cold War, armed with Polaris and later Poseidon ballistic missiles. Throughout her service, the submarine played a crucial role in maintaining the United States' nuclear deterrent posture. The USS Nathanael Greene was decommissioned in 1986 following damage sustained from a grounding incident, and was subsequently scrapped under the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.

USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) was the lead ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates, commissioned into the United States Navy on December 17, 1977. Named after the War of 1812 naval hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, FFG-7 served as a multi-role escort, specializing in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. Throughout her career, she participated in numerous deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Persian Gulf, supporting U.S. interests and NATO missions. After over two decades of distinguished service, USS Oliver Hazard Perry was decommissioned on September 20, 1997, marking the end of an era for her class but leaving a lasting legacy in naval history.

USS Parsons (DDG-33) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1961. Originally designated as a destroyer (DD-949), she was converted to a guided missile destroyer in 1966 and reclassified as DDG-33. Parsons served extensively in the Pacific, participating in Vietnam War operations, including naval gunfire support and plane guard duties for aircraft carriers on Yankee Station. After almost two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1982 and later used as a target ship.

USS Pledge (MSO-492) was an Agile-class minesweeper of the United States Navy, commissioned on 20 October 1955. Designed for mine countermeasure operations, she served extensively in the Pacific, participating in training exercises and supporting fleet operations during the Cold War. The ship contributed to several multinational exercises and operated in areas such as the Western Pacific and off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. USS Pledge was decommissioned on 1 January 1994 after nearly four decades of service and was subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS *Plymouth Rock* (LSD-29) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1954. Designed to support amphibious operations, she provided transport and launch capabilities for landing craft, vehicles, and troops. *Plymouth Rock* participated in numerous exercises and operations along the Atlantic coast, the Caribbean, and occasionally in the Mediterranean, contributing to Cold War readiness and rapid deployment capabilities. After nearly three decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1983 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS **Ponchatoula (AO-148)** was a Neosho-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1956. Designed to refuel ships at sea, she played a vital support role during major operations, including the Vietnam War, where she serviced aircraft carriers and other vessels off the coast of Southeast Asia. Throughout her career, Ponchatoula participated in numerous exercises and deployments in the Pacific, earning multiple awards for her service. Decommissioned in 1992, she was later transferred to the Maritime Administration and eventually scrapped, leaving behind a distinguished legacy of logistical excellence.

USS Port Royal (CG 73) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on July 9, 1994. Named after two historic American battles, the ship has played a critical role in air defense, ballistic missile defense, and multi-mission operations throughout its service. Port Royal participated in various deployments, including support for Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, providing vital air and missile defense capabilities. Notably, in 2009, the ship ran aground near Honolulu but was repaired and returned to service, continuing to operate as a key asset in the Pacific Fleet until its decommissioning in 2022.

USS Porter (DDG-78) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy, commissioned on March 20, 1999. Named after Commodore David Porter and his son, Admiral David Dixon Porter, the ship has played a key role in various Navy operations, including ballistic missile defense and multinational exercises. USS Porter has been forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, supporting NATO’s ballistic missile defense system and participating in operations such as the 2017 missile strike on Syria in response to chemical attacks. The destroyer continues to serve as a vital asset in both Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters, contributing to maritime security and alliance commitments.

USS Preston (DD-795) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in March 1944. She saw extensive service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, providing escort, screening, and shore bombardment support during key operations such as the Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa campaigns. After World War II, Preston was decommissioned but later recommissioned for service during the Korean War, where she participated in patrol and bombardment duties. The destroyer was finally decommissioned in 1969 and later transferred to Turkey, serving as TCG Icel (D 344).

USS Putnam (DD-757) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944. She served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, providing fire support and screening for carrier task forces, and participated in the Okinawa campaign. After the war, Putnam assisted in occupation duties in Japan and later served during the Korean War, conducting patrols and bombardment missions. Decommissioned in 1973, the USS Putnam earned several battle stars for her distinguished service.