USS Hewitt (DD-966)

• Spruance-Class Destroyer: USS Hewitt (DD-966) was a Spruance-class destroyer, a class designed for anti-submarine warfare and one of the backbone surface combatants of the US Navy during the Cold War era. • Named for a Medal of Honor Recipient: The ship was named after Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, a distinguished World War II commander known for his amphibious operations in North Africa, Sicily, and southern France. • Launched in 1974: USS Hewitt was launched on September 14, 1974, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned on September 25, 1976. • First to Fire Harpoon Missiles: In 1979, Hewitt became the first ship in the Pacific Fleet to successfully fire the Harpoon anti-ship missile, showcasing the Navy’s growing missile capabilities. • Extensive Overhauls: The destroyer underwent several major overhauls, including the addition of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Phalanx CIWS, and advanced electronics, keeping it modernized through the 1990s. • Operation Desert Storm: Hewitt participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, launching Tomahawk missiles against targets in Iraq and providing naval gunfire support. • Humanitarian Missions: In 1991, the ship was part of Operation Fiery Vigil, helping evacuate US military personnel and their families from the Philippines after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. • Drug Interdiction Role: In the mid-1990s, Hewitt participated in counter-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific, seizing significant quantities of illegal drugs. • Decommissioning: USS Hewitt was decommissioned on July 25, 2001, after nearly 25 years of service, and was later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2003. • Crew Traditions: The crew of USS Hewitt was known for their strong esprit de corps, including the annual "Hewitt Olympics" and the tradition of painting the ship’s anchor gold to celebrate successful deployments.