William Mccartney

USS Chicago (CG-11) was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser originally commissioned in 1945 as CA-136. After serving briefly at the end of World War II, she was decommissioned, then extensively modernized and recommissioned in 1964 as a guided missile cruiser. As CG-11, USS Chicago served prominently during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, conducting air defense operations, and serving as a flagship for various task forces. She continued her service in the Pacific Fleet until her decommissioning in 1980.

USS Peoria (LST-1183) was a Newport-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1970. Designed for rapid deployment of tanks, vehicles, and troops, she played a key logistical role in amphibious operations, including deployments during the Vietnam War and numerous exercises in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Throughout her service, Peoria supported humanitarian missions, such as the evacuation of Saigon during Operation Frequent Wind in 1975. After over two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1994 and later expended as a target during naval exercises.

USS Cayuga (LST-1186) was a Newport-class tank landing ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1970. Designed for rapid deployment of tanks, vehicles, and troops directly onto shore, Cayuga played a significant role during the Vietnam War, providing logistical support and participating in amphibious operations. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she served with the Pacific Fleet, supporting training exercises, humanitarian missions, and fleet maneuvers. The ship was decommissioned in 1994 after over two decades of distinguished service.

USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship commissioned into the United States Navy on August 8, 1987. Named after the historic fort in Baltimore, Maryland, the ship was designed to transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with embarked Marines during amphibious operations. Throughout its service, Fort McHenry participated in numerous deployments, including Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and humanitarian missions such as tsunami relief in Indonesia in 2005. After over three decades of active service supporting global naval operations, USS Fort McHenry was decommissioned on March 27, 2021.