U.S. Navy

USS SHELTON (DD-790) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in June 1946. Named in honor of Ensign James A. Shelton, she served actively during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support, screening aircraft carriers, and participating in patrol and blockade operations. Throughout the Cold War, the USS SHELTON conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific, including missions during the Vietnam War where she supported operations with shore bombardments and rescue missions. Decommissioned in 1973, the ship was later transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy, where she continued service as ROKS Kang Won (DD-922).

USS Shoup (DDG-86) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned on June 22, 2002. Named in honor of General David M. Shoup, a Medal of Honor recipient and 22nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, the ship has played an active role in U.S. naval operations worldwide. USS Shoup has participated in operations supporting the Global War on Terrorism, including deployments to the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific. The destroyer has also engaged in multinational exercises, humanitarian missions, and maritime security operations, exemplifying the versatility and strength of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet.

USS **Snook** (SSN-592) was a Skipjack-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy, named after the snook fish. She was commissioned on 24 October 1961, serving primarily with the Pacific Fleet. During her career, Snook conducted numerous patrols and exercises, contributing to Cold War deterrence and anti-submarine warfare operations. The submarine was decommissioned on 14 November 1986, after 25 years of service, and subsequently scrapped as part of the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.

USS Springfield (SSN-761) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine commissioned into the United States Navy on January 9, 1993. Named after the cities of Springfield in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Missouri, the submarine is renowned for its advanced sonar and weapons systems. Throughout its service, USS Springfield has conducted numerous deployments, supporting fleet operations, intelligence gathering, and maritime security missions worldwide. The submarine underwent a major modernization overhaul in the 2010s, ensuring its continued operational effectiveness into the 21st century.

USS STATEN ISLAND (AGB-5) was a Wind-class icebreaker commissioned by the United States Navy in 1952. Originally built for the U.S. Coast Guard as USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278) during World War II, she was transferred to the Navy to support Arctic and Antarctic operations. Throughout her service, STATEN ISLAND played a vital role in Operation Deep Freeze and other polar expeditions, ensuring safe passage for research and supply ships. After nearly two decades of distinguished service, she was returned to the Coast Guard in 1966 and continued her icebreaking missions until her decommissioning.

USS Stethem (DDG-63) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy on October 21, 1995. Named in honor of Steelworker Second Class Robert Stethem, a Navy SEAL who was killed by terrorists in 1985, the ship has been homeported in both the United States and Japan as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. USS Stethem has participated in numerous exercises and operations, including ballistic missile defense, freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea, and humanitarian missions. The ship has received several awards for its operational excellence and continues to play a vital role in maintaining maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.

USS Summit County (LST-1146) was a tank landing ship of the LST-542 class, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945 near the end of World War II. After initial service in the Pacific, she participated in occupation duties in the Far East and supported amphibious operations during the Korean War, transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies. In the postwar period, the vessel continued to serve with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, providing logistical support and training services. In 1971, USS Summit County was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy, where she continued her service as HTMS Lanta (LST-4).

USS Surfbird (ADG-383) was a U.S. Navy minesweeper and degaussing ship commissioned in 1945. Originally launched as a YMS-1-class minesweeper (YMS-271), she was later converted to a degaussing vessel and renamed Surfbird in 1947. Surfbird served primarily in the Pacific, providing degaussing and minesweeping support during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, helping protect naval vessels from magnetic mines. She was decommissioned in 1975 after three decades of valuable service to the U.S. Navy.

USS Terrell County (LST-1157) was a United States Navy tank landing ship commissioned in 1953. She served primarily in the Pacific Fleet, supporting amphibious operations and logistics during the Cold War era. Terrell County saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, delivering troops, vehicles, and supplies to combat zones along the Vietnamese coast. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1972 and later transferred to the Spanish Navy.

USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) was a Knox-class frigate commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1973. Named after Admiral Thomas C. Hart, the ship was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War era. USS Thomas C. Hart served in the Atlantic Fleet, participating in numerous exercises, patrols, and operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. After nearly two decades of service, the frigate was decommissioned in 1993 and later transferred to Turkey, where it served as TCG Zafer (F253).

USS *Thomas S. Gates* (CG-51) was a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, commissioned on 22 December 1987. Named in honor of Thomas S. Gates, the 7th Secretary of Defense, the ship was equipped with the advanced Aegis Combat System and played a vital role in air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare operations. During her service, *Thomas S. Gates* participated in multiple deployments, including Operation Desert Storm and operations in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, providing escort and air defense for carrier battle groups. The cruiser was decommissioned on 15 December 2005 after nearly 18 years of distinguished service.

USS Tom Green County (LST-1159) was a Terrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1953. Primarily serving in the Pacific, she played a key logistical role during the Vietnam War, transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies to support combat operations. The ship participated in numerous amphibious landings and provided essential support for riverine and coastal missions. After nearly two decades of service, USS Tom Green County was decommissioned in 1972 and later transferred to the Republic of the Philippines.

USS Traverse County (LST-1160) was a Terrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1953. Designed for amphibious operations, she transported troops, vehicles, and equipment to support U.S. military operations worldwide. Traverse County participated in numerous training exercises and deployments, notably supporting NATO operations in the Mediterranean and providing logistical support during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1970 and later transferred to the Venezuelan Navy.

USS Tringa (ASR-16) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Designed to support submarine rescue and salvage operations, Tringa played a crucial role in aiding distressed submarines, conducting training exercises, and participating in fleet maneuvers during her service. Throughout her career, she operated extensively along the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean, and occasionally in the Mediterranean, contributing to both peacetime and Cold War readiness. USS Tringa was decommissioned in 1975, marking the end of three decades of vital undersea support service.

USS Turner (DDR-834) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Named in honor of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, the ship initially served during the final months of World War II and then participated extensively in Cold War operations, including NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. In 1956, Turner was converted to a radar picket destroyer (DDR), enhancing her air defense capabilities. The vessel remained active until her decommissioning in 1969, after which she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and later scrapped.

USS Ute (AT-76) was a Cherokee-class fleet tug commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943. Throughout World War II, she provided vital towing, salvage, and rescue operations across the Pacific Theater, supporting major campaigns such as the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. USS Ute continued her service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, earning multiple battle stars for her steadfast support roles in both conflicts. Decommissioned in 1989, USS Ute’s long and distinguished career stands as a testament to the essential contributions of auxiliary vessels in naval operations.

**USS Utina (ATF-163)** was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. She provided essential towing, salvage, and rescue services during the final months of World War II and throughout the early Cold War period, supporting fleet operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Utina was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy in 1977, serving as **USS Outpost (YAGR-10)** under her new designation. The vessel continued her service in regional maritime support roles until her eventual decommissioning, marking decades of versatile naval utility.

USS Valor (AM-472) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. Launched in 1944, she participated in mine-clearing operations along the U.S. East Coast and the Atlantic, ensuring safe passage for Allied vessels. Valor played a crucial role in post-war efforts, clearing minefields to restore maritime safety. Decommissioned in 1947, she was placed in reserve before being struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

USS Vance (DER-387) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Originally commissioned in 1943, she served primarily as a convoy escort in the Atlantic, protecting merchant ships from German U-boats. After the war, Vance was decommissioned but later recommissioned and converted to a radar picket ship (DER) during the Cold War, serving as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line in the Pacific. The USS Vance also participated in Operation Market Time during the Vietnam War, conducting coastal surveillance and interdiction patrols before her final decommissioning in 1970.

USS Vicksburg (CG-69) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on November 14, 1992. Named after the Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, the ship has served in multiple operational theaters, including the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Persian Gulf. USS Vicksburg has participated in significant missions such as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing air defense and surface warfare capabilities. Over her service, the cruiser has supported carrier strike groups, conducted maritime security operations, and participated in numerous multinational exercises, demonstrating her versatility and combat readiness.

USS Weiss (APD-135) was a Crosley-class high-speed transport commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Originally laid down as a destroyer escort, she was converted during construction to serve as a fast transport for amphibious operations. Weiss participated in the final stages of World War II, supporting occupation landings in Japan and later assisting with minesweeping operations and troop transport duties in the Pacific. She continued to serve during the Korean War, providing valuable support for amphibious assaults and evacuation operations before being decommissioned in 1957.

USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned into the United States Navy on October 20, 1990. Built by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, she is the third U.S. Navy vessel named after the state of West Virginia. As part of the Navy's strategic deterrent force, USS West Virginia carries Trident II D5 ballistic missiles and has participated in numerous deterrent patrols to maintain peace and security. The submarine continues to serve as a critical element of the United States' nuclear triad, ensuring strategic stability and national defense.

USS Willard Keith (DD-775) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1944. She served in the Pacific Theater during the final months of World War II, participating in operations off Okinawa and supporting the occupation of Japan. After the war, Willard Keith performed various duties including training missions and patrols during the early Cold War period. The destroyer remained active through the Korean War and into the 1960s before being decommissioned in 1972 and eventually sold for scrap.

USS Wood County (LST-1178) was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1959. Designed to transport troops, vehicles, and equipment directly onto shore, she served primarily with the Atlantic Fleet, participating in amphibious exercises and supporting Marine and Army units. Notably, Wood County took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine operations in 1962 and later provided logistics support during the Vietnam War era. Decommissioned in 1972, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977 and subsequently sold for scrap.