Louie Jones

USS Okinawa (LPH-3) was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1962. Named after the pivotal World War II Battle of Okinawa, she served as a helicopter carrier, supporting amphibious operations and rapid troop deployment. Throughout her career, USS Okinawa participated in the Vietnam War, the recovery of Apollo spacecraft, and numerous Cold War-era exercises and operations. After over 28 years of service, she was decommissioned in 1992 and later sunk as a target in 2002.

Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific (FCTCPAC) has served as a cornerstone of U.S. Navy readiness since its establishment in 1981. Located in San Diego, California, FCTCPAC provides advanced tactical and technical training to surface fleet units, ensuring operational proficiency across a wide spectrum of warfare areas. The center specializes in integrated training exercises, developing combat skills in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, as well as command and control operations. Over the decades, FCTCPAC has played a critical role in preparing Pacific Fleet ships and crews for deployment, enhancing the combat effectiveness and survivability of naval forces in the region.

The USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was the world's first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, commissioned into the United States Navy in 1961. Serving during the height of the Cold War, she played a significant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in 1962 and later participated in combat operations during the Vietnam War, providing air defense and gunfire support. The ship was renowned for her advanced radar and missile systems, setting new standards for naval warfare technology. After more than three decades of service, the USS Long Beach was decommissioned in 1995.