USS McCloy (DE-1038)

• Namesake: USS McCloy (DE-1038) was named after Lieutenant (junior grade) John McCloy, a two-time Medal of Honor recipient for heroism during the Boxer Rebellion and the U.S. occupation of Veracruz. • Class and Type: She was a Bronstein-class destroyer escort, designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) during the Cold War. • Launch and Commission: McCloy was launched on October 9, 1962, by Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana and commissioned into service on October 21, 1963. • Cuban Missile Crisis Legacy: Though commissioned after the crisis, McCloy was part of a new generation of ASW ships built in response to the increased Soviet submarine threat highlighted during the Cuban Missile Crisis. • First Rescue Mission: In 1966, McCloy rescued the crew of the sinking Greek freighter SS Ioannis in the North Atlantic, earning a Navy Unit Commendation. • NATO Operations: McCloy participated in multiple NATO exercises, including "Ocean Safari" and "Northern Wedding," strengthening alliances and improving interoperability with European navies. • Sonar Innovations: The ship was one of the first destroyer escorts fitted with the advanced SQS-26 sonar, making her a key testbed for anti-submarine tactics. • Helicopter Operations: McCloy was modified to deploy and retrieve the "DASH" (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter), an early unmanned ASW helicopter system. • Vietnam War Era: Although not deployed to Vietnam, McCloy served during the Vietnam War period and contributed to Atlantic fleet readiness and training. • Decommissioning and Fate: After nearly 28 years of service, USS McCloy was decommissioned on December 14, 1990, and sold for scrap in 1992.