Raymond M. Olsen

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.

Naval Air Facility Adak was established during World War II on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to serve as a forward operating base against Japanese forces occupying nearby islands. Commissioned in 1942, the facility played a crucial role in supporting air operations, antisubmarine patrols, and logistical missions throughout the Aleutian Campaign. After the war, NAF Adak continued to serve as a strategic Cold War outpost, hosting maritime patrol aircraft and supporting surveillance operations in the North Pacific. The facility was eventually closed in 1997 as part of post-Cold War realignment and base closures, ending its long-standing role in U.S. military history.

U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion ONE (USNMCB 1), also known as "Seabees," was first commissioned in 1942 during World War II to provide critical construction support to the Navy and Marine Corps in combat zones. Throughout its history, NMCB 1 has participated in major conflicts including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and operations in the Middle East, building airfields, bases, roads, and other vital infrastructure under often hazardous conditions. The battalion is renowned for its "Can Do" spirit, adaptability, and technical expertise, often working in austere environments to support both combat and humanitarian missions. Today, NMCB 1 continues to serve as a vital unit within the Naval Construction Force, ready to deploy worldwide in support of U.S. military and allied operations.

USS Sunbird (ASR-15) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1946. Designed for submarine rescue and salvage operations, Sunbird served along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean, supporting submarine exercises and participating in fleet operations during the Cold War. She played a key role in training missions and rescue readiness, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the Navy’s growing submarine fleet. USS Sunbird was decommissioned in 1993 after nearly five decades of distinguished service.

USS Opportune (ARS-41) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Built to provide salvage, towing, and rescue operations, she served extensively during the latter stages of World War II and throughout the Cold War era. The ship supported fleet operations by assisting damaged vessels, conducting towing missions, and participating in recovery efforts, notably in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. USS Opportune remained in active service until her decommissioning in 1993, after nearly five decades of distinguished service.

NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads was a United States Navy base located in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, established in 1943 during World War II as a strategic support and training facility in the Caribbean. Named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the base played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare, logistics, and as a staging ground for U.S. naval operations throughout Latin America and the Atlantic. During the Cold War, it supported regional security initiatives and served as a key hub for joint military exercises and disaster relief efforts in the Caribbean basin. NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads was officially closed in 2004 as part of a Department of Defense realignment and its facilities were transferred to the Puerto Rican government.

USS Fulton (AS-11) was a Fulton-class submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1941. Throughout World War II, she provided vital maintenance, repair, and logistical support to submarines operating in the Pacific Theater, including during key campaigns such as those in the Solomons and the Philippines. After the war, USS Fulton continued to serve through the Korean War and into the Cold War era, supporting both conventional and nuclear-powered submarines. Decommissioned in 1991, she was one of the longest-serving submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy, with a distinguished record of service spanning five decades.

The USNCB Trading Center at Port Hueneme, California, traces its roots to World War II, when the base was established in 1942 as the primary West Coast home for the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalions, better known as the Seabees. Serving as a vital logistics and training hub, Port Hueneme played a crucial role in deploying construction units and supplies to the Pacific theater. Over the decades, it evolved into the Naval Construction Battalion Center, supporting Seabee operations worldwide. The Trading Center specifically facilitated procurement, supply distribution, and material readiness, ensuring Seabee units remained equipped for rapid response and construction missions across the globe.