U.S. Navy

Naval Facility Bermuda was a United States Navy Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) station established in 1955 on the island of Bermuda. Its primary mission was to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War by detecting underwater acoustic signals in the Atlantic Ocean. Operated by a small contingent of U.S. Navy personnel and civilian technicians, the facility played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare and maritime intelligence. Naval Facility Bermuda remained operational until 1992, when advances in technology and changes in global geopolitics led to its closure.

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, established in 1918 in Virginia, was originally created to support the U.S. Navy during World War I by providing a safe location for the storage and loading of naval munitions. Over the decades, it expanded its mission, playing a critical role in supplying ammunition and ordnance for the Atlantic Fleet during World War II and subsequent conflicts. The station has continued to evolve, supporting a wide range of Navy and joint-service operations, including logistics, training, and maintenance. Today, it remains a vital component of U.S. naval power, serving as both an ordnance hub and a support installation for numerous tenant commands.

NAVCOMMSTA-PWC Diego Garcia was a key United States Navy communications station and Public Works Center located on the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Established in the early 1970s, it played a vital role in supporting U.S. and allied military operations throughout the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf regions, particularly during the Cold War and subsequent conflicts. The station provided essential communications, logistics, and engineering support, enabling sustained naval and air operations from this strategic outpost. Over time, its capabilities contributed to the effectiveness of regional power projection and rapid military response in critical situations.

USS ANCHORAGE (LSD-36)

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USS Anchorage (LSD-36) was a dock landing ship commissioned into the United States Navy on March 15, 1970. As the lead ship of her class, Anchorage served extensively in the Pacific Fleet, supporting amphibious operations and transporting Marines, vehicles, and landing craft. Throughout her career, the ship participated in major exercises, humanitarian missions, and deployments, including operations during the Vietnam War and later in the Persian Gulf. After more than three decades of service, USS Anchorage was decommissioned on October 1, 2003, leaving a legacy of versatility and reliability in naval amphibious operations.

USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in 1963. Named after Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough, the ship served extensively in the Pacific Fleet during the Cold War era. Goldsborough saw multiple deployments to the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and participating in carrier escort operations. After nearly three decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1993 and later transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), where she served as ROCS An Yang.

USS Harry E. Yarnell (CG-17) was a Leahy-class guided missile cruiser commissioned by the United States Navy in 1963. Named after Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, the ship served as a key component of the Atlantic Fleet during the Cold War, specializing in anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. Throughout her career, Yarnell participated in numerous NATO exercises, Mediterranean deployments, and crisis response operations, demonstrating U.S. naval presence and power projection. After nearly three decades of service, USS Harry E. Yarnell was decommissioned in 1993 and subsequently scrapped.

USS Nitro (AE-23) was an ammunition ship commissioned by the United States Navy on May 1, 1959. As the lead ship of her class, Nitro played a crucial role in replenishing fleet units with munitions and explosives at sea, supporting naval operations during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Middle East crises. Homeported on the East Coast, she participated in numerous Mediterranean deployments with the U.S. Sixth Fleet and provided logistical support during various combat and training exercises. USS Nitro was decommissioned in 1995 after nearly four decades of dedicated service and was later scrapped.

USS Peterson (DD-969) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on 9 July 1977. Named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Carl Jerrold Peterson, the ship served extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in operations such as Desert Storm and maritime interdiction in the Persian Gulf. Throughout her career, Peterson conducted multiple deployments, including anti-submarine warfare, escort missions, and multinational exercises with NATO allies. After over 25 years of distinguished service, USS Peterson was decommissioned on 4 October 2002 and subsequently sunk as a target during a naval exercise in 2004.

USS Virginia (CGN-38) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on September 11, 1976. As the lead ship of the Virginia-class cruisers, she was equipped with advanced missile systems and served as a key component in carrier battle groups, specializing in air defense and surface warfare. Throughout her career, USS Virginia participated in numerous operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, supporting American interests during the Cold War. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned on November 29, 1994, as part of post-Cold War fleet reductions.

USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) is the lead ship of her class of dock landing ships in the United States Navy, commissioned on February 9, 1985. Designed to transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with embarked Marines, she has played a key role in numerous military operations, including Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and humanitarian missions such as disaster relief in Haiti. Over her decades of active service, Whidbey Island participated in exercises and deployments throughout the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern regions, supporting joint and coalition forces. Renowned for her versatility and reliability, she represents a vital component of the Navy’s amphibious assault capabilities.

USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DLG-13), a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer leader, was commissioned into the United States Navy on 4 November 1961. Named after Admiral William Veazie Pratt, the ship served prominently during the Cold War era, conducting operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. PRATT participated in significant exercises with NATO allies and supported U.S. naval operations during the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support and plane guard duties. After decades of service, the ship was decommissioned on 30 September 1991 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy, commissioned in April 1944. She served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, providing crucial naval gunfire support during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After being decommissioned post-war, Wisconsin was reactivated for service in the Korean War, again offering significant fire support for United Nations forces. Modernized in the 1980s, she saw action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before being decommissioned for the final time in 1991 and later becoming a museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia.

Attack Squadron 93 (VA-93), known as the "Ravens," was a United States Navy attack squadron established on 4 March 1952. Initially flying the F4U Corsair, the squadron transitioned through various aircraft, including the F9F Panther, A-4 Skyhawk, and finally the A-7 Corsair II. VA-93 participated in combat operations during the Vietnam War, conducting numerous strike missions from aircraft carriers stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin. The squadron was based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, and was disestablished on 1 August 1986.

Patrol Squadron 17 (VP-17), known as the "White Lightnings," was a U.S. Navy maritime patrol squadron established in 1946. Throughout its service, VP-17 operated a variety of aircraft, including the P-2 Neptune and P-3 Orion, conducting anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions. The squadron played a significant role during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and in various Pacific and Indian Ocean operations. VP-17 was based at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, until its disestablishment in 1995 as part of post-Cold War force reductions.

Patrol Squadron 8 (VP-8), known as the “Fighting Tigers,” was established in September 1942 during World War II. Originally flying the PBY Catalina and later the PB4Y-1 Liberator, the squadron conducted anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol missions in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Over the decades, VP-8 transitioned to various maritime patrol aircraft, including the P-2 Neptune, P-3 Orion, and currently the P-8A Poseidon. Throughout its history, VP-8 has participated in key operations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War patrols, and modern global anti-submarine and reconnaissance missions, earning a reputation for operational excellence.

The military Chaplain is a unique unit whose origins trace back to ancient armies, where spiritual leaders provided religious support on the battlefield. In modern times, chaplains became officially recognized as part of military organizations during the 18th and 19th centuries, notably within the British and American armed forces. Their primary role is to offer spiritual care, moral guidance, and counseling to service members of all faiths, often serving in combat zones alongside troops. Throughout history, military chaplains have been honored for their courage, compassion, and commitment to the wellbeing of soldiers, regardless of religious affiliation.

Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron ONE (HS-1), known as "Seabaters," was established on October 1, 1951, as the U.S. Navy’s first antisubmarine helicopter squadron. Based at Naval Air Station Key West and later at Jacksonville, Florida, HS-1 operated various helicopters, including the HSS-1 Seabat and SH-3 Sea King, pioneering tactics in airborne antisubmarine warfare (ASW). The squadron played a crucial role in developing and testing ASW technology and training successive generations of Navy helicopter crews. HS-1 was disestablished on June 29, 1993, leaving a legacy of innovation in naval aviation and ASW excellence.

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 (HS-11), known as the "Dragonslayers," was established in June 1957. Initially based at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, HS-11 specialized in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions, employing helicopters such as the HSS-1 Seabat and later the SH-3 Sea King. The squadron participated in key operations during the Cold War and beyond, including deployments aboard aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In 2014, HS-11 was redesignated as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11 (HSC-11), transitioning to the MH-60S Seahawk and expanding its mission set to include search and rescue, logistics, and combat support roles.

Naval Station Argentia was a major United States Navy base established in 1941 near Argentia, Newfoundland, as part of the "Destroyers for Bases Agreement" with the United Kingdom during World War II. The base played a strategic role in the Battle of the Atlantic, serving as a vital convoy assembly and anti-submarine warfare center, as well as providing support for Allied naval and air operations. Argentia also hosted the historic 1941 Atlantic Conference between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, which led to the Atlantic Charter. After serving throughout the Cold War as a key North Atlantic defense installation, the base was closed by the U.S. Navy in 1994 and returned to the Canadian government.

NAVCOMMSTA Wahiawa, officially known as Naval Communication Station Wahiawa, is a pivotal United States Navy communications facility located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Established during World War II, the station played a crucial role in maintaining secure and reliable communications across the Pacific theater. Over the decades, NAVCOMMSTA Wahiawa evolved with advancing technology, supporting fleet communications, cryptologic operations, and global command and control networks. Today, it operates as part of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC), continuing its legacy as a cornerstone of naval communications in the Indo-Pacific region.

Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Kamiseya, Japan, was established in the early 1950s as a key U.S. Navy signals intelligence (SIGINT) facility during the Cold War. Located near Yokosuka, it played a vital role in intercepting and analyzing communications from the Soviet Union, China, and regional actors in the Western Pacific. The unit provided crucial intelligence support to U.S. and allied naval operations, particularly during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. NSGA Kamiseya operated until its closure in 1995, after which its missions were consolidated with other intelligence activities in the region.

Service School Command, located at Great Lakes, Illinois, has played a pivotal role in the training and professional development of United States Navy personnel. Established in the early 20th century as part of Naval Station Great Lakes, the command became the Navy’s primary technical training hub following World War II, offering specialized instruction in various naval ratings and technical disciplines. Throughout the Cold War and into the modern era, Service School Command adapted its curriculum to meet evolving technological and operational needs, ensuring sailors are well-prepared for fleet assignments. Today, it remains a cornerstone of Navy training, maintaining its legacy of excellence in preparing enlisted personnel for service at sea and ashore.

USS El Paso (LKA-117) was a Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1970. Named after El Paso, Texas, the vessel was designed to transport troops, equipment, and supplies for amphibious operations. Throughout her service, El Paso participated in numerous exercises and deployments, including support missions in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, as well as contingency operations during global crises. The ship was decommissioned in 1994 after over two decades of distinguished service and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS *Galveston* (CLG-3) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser originally commissioned during World War II, but later converted to a guided missile cruiser and recommissioned in 1958. As a part of the U.S. Navy's modernization program, she was equipped with the Talos surface-to-air missile system, enhancing her air defense capabilities during the Cold War. *Galveston* served primarily in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, participating in operations such as patrols, training exercises, and showing the flag missions. She was decommissioned in 1970, marking the end of her distinguished service as one of the early missile-armed cruisers in the U.S. Navy.