Michael Whipple

Naval Hospital Beaufort, located in South Carolina, was commissioned in 1949 to provide medical care for military personnel, retirees, and their families in the Lowcountry region. Originally established to support the nearby Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the hospital has played a crucial role in treating service members from multiple branches. Over the decades, Naval Hospital Beaufort has expanded its facilities and services, adapting to advances in military medicine and the evolving needs of the armed forces community. Today, it continues its legacy of care, serving as a key component of Navy Medicine in the southeastern United States.

Fleet Air Wing 6, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, is a key component of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Established in 1971, the unit operates primarily maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, notably the P-3C Orion and its successor, the Kawasaki P-1. Fleet Air Wing 6 plays a crucial role in safeguarding Japan’s southwestern maritime approaches and supporting joint operations with U.S. and allied forces. Over the decades, the Wing has contributed to numerous surveillance missions, search and rescue operations, and regional security initiatives in the Asia-Pacific.

Naval Hospital Key West, Florida, has served as a vital military medical facility since its establishment in 1823, making it one of the oldest naval hospitals in the United States. Originally built to provide medical care for sailors assigned to the Key West Naval Station, the hospital played a significant role during the Spanish-American War, tending to wounded and ill servicemembers. Throughout World War II and the Cold War, the hospital supported increased military activity in the region, adapting its services to meet the demands of submarine and naval aviation operations. Today, Naval Hospital Key West continues to deliver comprehensive healthcare to active duty personnel, veterans, and their families, upholding its long tradition of service.

USS Iowa (BB-61) is the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships, commissioned into the United States Navy in 1943. She served with distinction in World War II, providing fire support during the Pacific campaigns and escorting aircraft carriers. USS Iowa later saw action during the Korean War, bombarding enemy positions along the coast. After periods of decommissioning and modernization, she was reactivated in the 1980s before finally being decommissioned in 1990, and now serves as a museum ship in Los Angeles, California.