USS Henley (DD-762)

• Namesake: USS Henley (DD-762) was named in honor of Robert Henley, a distinguished officer in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 who played a key role in the Battle of Lake Champlain. • Gearing-Class Destroyer: The USS Henley was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and successful destroyer classes built for the U.S. Navy during and after World War II. • Launched in 1945: Henley was launched on April 8, 1945, by Bethlehem Steel Co. in San Francisco, California, near the end of World War II. • Postwar Service: Although completed too late to see action in WWII, Henley served during the early Cold War years, participating in multiple fleet exercises and training missions. • Korean War Involvement: USS Henley served during the Korean War, operating with the 7th Fleet and providing gunfire support, anti-submarine screening, and carrier escort services. • Operation Argus: In 1958, Henley participated in Operation Argus, a series of high-altitude nuclear tests in the South Atlantic, supporting scientific and military research on nuclear effects. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, USS Henley was part of the naval blockade ("quarantine") of Cuba, helping to enforce the U.S. response to Soviet missile deployment. • FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, Henley underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, which updated her anti-submarine warfare equipment and extended her service life. • Humanitarian Missions: The destroyer took part in various goodwill and humanitarian missions, including visits to South American ports and supporting disaster relief efforts. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Henley was decommissioned on June 2, 1973, after nearly 28 years of service, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She was later sold for scrap in 1981.