USS William R. Rush (DD-714)

• Namesake: USS William R. Rush (DD-714) was named after Rear Admiral William R. Rush, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer who served with valor during the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War. • Gearing-class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and effective destroyer classes built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. • Commissioning: The destroyer was commissioned on 21 September 1945, just after the end of World War II, and thus never saw combat during that conflict. • Korean War Service: USS William R. Rush participated in the Korean War, conducting patrols, shore bombardments, and providing support to United Nations forces. • FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, the ship underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, which upgraded her anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and extended her service life. • Cuban Missile Crisis: The destroyer played a vital role in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), participating in the naval quarantine (blockade) of Cuba. • Space Program Support: William R. Rush served as a recovery ship for Project Gemini space missions, assisting in the recovery of astronauts and their capsules. • Mediterranean Deployments: The ship made numerous Mediterranean deployments with the U.S. 6th Fleet, supporting NATO operations and showing the flag during the Cold War. • Transfer to South Korea: After her long service with the U.S. Navy, she was decommissioned in July 1978 and transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy, where she served as ROKS Kang Won (DD-922). • Longevity: USS William R. Rush served both the U.S. and South Korea for a combined total of over 40 years, demonstrating the robustness and adaptability of the Gearing-class design.