U.S. Navy

Naval Communication Station Kodiak, Alaska, was established during World War II as part of the United States' efforts to defend the North Pacific and maintain secure communications in the strategically vital Aleutian Islands. Commissioned in 1941, the station provided critical radio and communications support for U.S. naval operations, particularly during the Aleutian Islands Campaign against Japanese forces. Throughout the Cold War, the station continued to play an important role in monitoring Soviet activity and supporting fleet operations in the North Pacific. The facility was eventually decommissioned as advances in technology and changing strategic priorities reduced the need for remote communication stations in Alaska.

Naval Support Activity Hospital Danang was a major U.S. Navy medical facility established in 1965 in Danang, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Initially set up to provide medical care for American and allied forces, the hospital rapidly expanded to accommodate the increasing number of casualties resulting from intensified combat operations in the region. Staffed by Navy doctors, nurses, and corpsmen, it became one of the largest and most advanced military hospitals in Vietnam, offering surgery, trauma care, and treatment for tropical diseases. Naval Support Activity Hospital Danang played a critical role in saving thousands of lives before winding down operations as U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam in the early 1970s.

NAVCAMS MED, or Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Mediterranean, is a key United States Navy communications unit located in Naples, Italy. Established to provide reliable and secure communications across the Mediterranean theater, NAVCAMS MED plays a crucial role in supporting the operational requirements of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and allied forces in the region. The unit manages and maintains sophisticated communication networks, ensuring uninterrupted command and control for naval and joint operations. Over the years, NAVCAMS MED has evolved with advancing technology, adapting to modern cyber and information warfare demands while maintaining its legacy of excellence in military communications.

The Naval Regional Medical Center Oakland (NRMC Oakland), originally established as the U.S. Naval Hospital Oakland in 1942, was built to care for casualties during World War II. Located in Oakland, California, the facility rapidly expanded during the war to accommodate thousands of wounded service members returning from the Pacific Theater. Over the decades, NRMC Oakland served as a major medical center for Navy personnel and their families, providing a wide range of medical services and training for military medical staff. The hospital was eventually decommissioned in 1996 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, with its legacy continuing through the veterans and medical professionals it served.

RVAW-110, known as the "Nazgul," was a United States Navy Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in San Diego, California. Established in 1967, RVAW-110 was primarily responsible for training naval aircrew and maintenance personnel on the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. The squadron played a key role in preparing crews for operational deployment with carrier-based fleet squadrons, ensuring readiness for both peacetime and combat missions. RVAW-110 was disestablished in 1994 as part of post-Cold War force reductions, with its training responsibilities consolidated into other units.

US Naval Facility Brawdy, Wales, was a key American military installation operated by the United States Navy from 1974 to 1995. Situated on the southwestern coast of Wales, the facility played a crucial role in undersea surveillance as part of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), designed to track Soviet submarine activity during the Cold War. Staffed by both US Navy personnel and civilian contractors, NAVFAC Brawdy supported NATO maritime defense operations in the North Atlantic. The facility was closed following the end of the Cold War, with its mission and function transferred or decommissioned as part of broader post-Cold War military reductions.

USS Badger (FF-1071) was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on December 1, 1970. Named in honor of Commodore Oscar C. Badger and his father, USS Badger served primarily in the Pacific Fleet, participating in numerous operations, including escort duties, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and deployments to the Western Pacific during the Vietnam War era. The ship earned recognition for its service in supporting fleet operations and maintaining maritime security during the Cold War. After over two decades of active service, USS Badger was decommissioned on December 20, 1991, and later scrapped in 2000.

USS BELKNAP (DLG-26/CG-26) was commissioned in 1964 as a guided missile frigate and later reclassified as a guided missile cruiser in 1975. Serving as the lead ship of her class, BELKNAP participated in key operations during the Vietnam War and provided vital support in the Mediterranean as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The ship is notably remembered for a devastating collision with USS JOHN F. KENNEDY in 1975, which resulted in a major fire and significant damage. After extensive repairs and modernization, BELKNAP returned to service, eventually serving as the Sixth Fleet flagship before being decommissioned in 1995.

USS Bradley (DE-1041) was a Garcia-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1965. Named after Lieutenant Commander Willis W. Bradley, a Medal of Honor recipient, the ship served extensively during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Throughout her service, USS Bradley participated in numerous operations in the Western Pacific, contributing to fleet readiness and regional security. Decommissioned in 1988, she was later transferred to the Brazilian Navy, where she served as Pernambuco (D30) until her final decommissioning.

USS Cascade (AD-16) was a destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in March 1943. Assigned to the Pacific Fleet during World War II, she provided crucial maintenance, repair, and logistical support to destroyers and other vessels throughout major campaigns, including operations in the Marshall Islands, Marianas, and Philippines. After the war, Cascade continued her service during the Korean War and into the Cold War, supporting the fleet in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was decommissioned in 1974 after more than three decades of distinguished service.

USS Connole (FF-1056) was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on August 30, 1969. Named in honor of Lieutenant Commander David R. Connole, she was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War era. The ship deployed extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in NATO exercises, patrols, and escort missions. After over two decades of service, USS Connole was decommissioned on August 30, 1992, and later transferred to Greece, where she served as the ELLI (F450).

USS Conolly (DD-979) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on February 14, 1978. Named after Admiral Richard L. Conolly, the ship served as a multi-mission destroyer, specializing in anti-submarine warfare but also capable of surface and air defense operations. Throughout her career, Conolly participated in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. After over two decades of service, USS Conolly was decommissioned on September 18, 1998, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2009.

USS Cowpens (CG-63) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy in 1991. Named after the pivotal American Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens, the ship has played a significant role in various operations, including supporting combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout its service, USS Cowpens has participated in numerous multinational exercises, maritime security operations, and has conducted freedom of navigation patrols in the Western Pacific. The ship is renowned for its advanced Aegis combat system and continues to serve as a vital component of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet.

USS Du Pont (DD-941) was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in July 1957. Named after Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, she served actively during the Cold War, participating in numerous Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments. The destroyer saw action in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and participating in operations off the coast of Southeast Asia. USS Du Pont was decommissioned in March 1983 after over 25 years of service and was eventually scrapped in 1992.

USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1955. Named after Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, the ship served prominently during the Cold War, participating in various Atlantic and Mediterranean operations, including NATO exercises and crisis response missions. During her service, Forrest Sherman was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine and provided support during the Lebanon Crisis of 1958. After decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned in 1982 and later used as a test ship before being sunk as a target in 2012.

USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654) was a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in 1966. Named after General George C. Marshall, the vessel played a vital role in the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent during the Cold War, conducting numerous deterrent patrols armed with Polaris and later Poseidon missiles. Throughout her service, she was a key part of the U.S. Navy’s “41 for Freedom” fleet of ballistic missile submarines. The USS George C. Marshall was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1992, following the end of the Cold War and subsequent nuclear arms reductions.

USS Harold E. Holt (DE-1074) was a Knox-class frigate commissioned by the United States Navy in 1971, named in honor of Harold E. Holt, the former Prime Minister of Australia. Throughout her service, she conducted anti-submarine warfare, escort, and patrol duties, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Notably, in May 1975, Harold E. Holt played a key role in the rescue operation of the SS Mayaguez and her crew from Cambodian forces. After two decades of active service, the ship was decommissioned in 1992 and later sunk as a target during naval exercises.

USS Ingersoll (DD-990) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on April 12, 1980. Named in honor of Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, the ship served primarily in the Pacific Fleet, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Throughout its service, USS Ingersoll provided vital anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, and surface warfare capabilities to carrier battle groups and independent task forces. The destroyer was decommissioned on July 24, 1998, and later expended as a target during a fleet training exercise in 2003.

USS Jamestown (AGTR-3) was a technical research ship of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1963. Originally built as a Liberty ship during World War II, she was later converted for electronic intelligence gathering during the Cold War. Serving primarily in the Pacific, Jamestown monitored communications and electronic signals, supporting U.S. intelligence operations during the Vietnam War. She was decommissioned in 1969 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS **John Rodgers (DD-983)** was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in 1979. Named after three generations of distinguished naval officers, the ship served with distinction during the Cold War, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. In 1991, she supported Operation Desert Storm, providing escort and naval gunfire support. After over two decades of active service, USS John Rodgers was decommissioned in 1998 and later sunk as a target in 2001.

USS *Kawishiwi* (AO-146) was a Neosho-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1955. Throughout her service, she played a crucial role in refueling and replenishing ships at sea, primarily supporting the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the Cold War. The *Kawishiwi* participated in operations during the Vietnam War, ensuring sustained naval presence and combat readiness through underway replenishment missions. After more than three decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1986, marking the end of her vital logistical contributions to naval operations.

USS Klondike (AR-22) was a Shenandoah-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Designed to provide repair and maintenance support to destroyers and smaller vessels, she was quickly deployed to the Pacific theater near the end of World War II. After the war, Klondike served with the Pacific Fleet, supporting naval operations during the Korean War and throughout the Cold War era. Decommissioned in 1970, the USS Klondike played a vital role in maintaining the operational readiness of the U.S. Navy’s destroyer forces for over two decades.

USS MACDONOUGH (DLG-8), a Farragut-class guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the United States Navy in 1959. Named after Commodore Thomas Macdonough, the ship served as a key component of the Atlantic Fleet during the Cold War, conducting numerous deployments in the Mediterranean and participating in NATO exercises. She played an active role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, enforcing the naval quarantine of Cuba. After nearly three decades of service, MACDONOUGH was decommissioned in 1992 and later scrapped, marking the end of her distinguished naval career.

USS Mahan (DDG-42) was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned on December 25, 1960. Named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, the influential naval historian and strategist, she played a key role in Cold War naval operations, including carrier escort duties and participation in NATO exercises. Over her service life, Mahan conducted numerous deployments in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, supporting U.S. interests and demonstrating naval presence. After nearly three decades of service, USS Mahan was decommissioned on June 15, 1993, and later scrapped, leaving a legacy of technological advancement and operational excellence.