Terry Fassett

Assault Craft Unit 2 (ACU 2) is a United States Navy unit established in 1959 and based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia. Its primary mission is to provide ship-to-shore movement of troops, vehicles, and cargo using landing craft, including the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM). ACU 2 has played vital roles in numerous amphibious operations, humanitarian missions, and joint exercises, supporting both the Atlantic Fleet and NATO allies. The unit’s versatility and expertise in amphibious logistics make it a critical asset in U.S. naval expeditionary warfare.

USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1973. Designed to support carrier battle groups, she provided vital underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition, and supplies during the Cold War era. Throughout her service, Kalamazoo operated primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in numerous NATO exercises and U.S. fleet operations. After over two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1996 and later scrapped, having played a crucial logistical role in sustaining naval operations.

USS Sacramento (AOE-1) was the lead ship of her class of fast combat support ships in the United States Navy, commissioned on March 14, 1964. Designed to combine the functions of an oiler, ammunition ship, and refrigerated stores ship, she played a crucial role in underway replenishment, enabling carrier strike groups to operate at sea for extended periods. Sacramento served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and supported numerous peacetime and combat operations throughout her career. After nearly four decades of service, she was decommissioned on October 1, 2004, marking the end of her distinguished tenure in the fleet.

USS Suribachi (AE-21) was a Suribachi-class ammunition ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1956. Named after the iconic Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, the vessel played a critical role in supplying ammunition and explosives to the fleet during both peacetime operations and periods of conflict. Throughout her service, she supported U.S. naval operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including support missions during the Vietnam War. USS Suribachi was decommissioned in 1994 after nearly four decades of service, leaving behind a legacy of vital logistical support to the U.S. Navy.

NRD PHILA, or Navy Recruiting District Philadelphia, headquartered at Broad & Butler, has played a pivotal role in supporting the U.S. Navy’s recruiting efforts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Established to oversee and manage Navy recruitment across Philadelphia and its surrounding areas, NRD PHILA has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of the Navy since its inception. The unit has been instrumental in enlisting thousands of Sailors, ensuring the fleet is manned with qualified personnel from a diverse urban population. Over the decades, NRD PHILA has built strong community ties and upheld a tradition of service, excellence, and commitment to national defense.