SPRUANCE DD 963

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Spruance Class Destroyer Keel Laid 27 November 1972 - Launched 10 November 1973 USS SPRUANCE DD-963 Commissioned 20 September 1975 - Decommissioned 23 March 2005 Struck from Naval Register 23 March 2005 Sunk as target 7-8 December 2006 off the Virginia Capes during Sinkex

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Spruance DD-963 Covers Page 1    (1978)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n)(USS)

1975-09-20

Commissioning, cachet by the USS America Chapter No. 71, USCS

 

Locy Type 2-1(n) (USS)

1978-10-27

Note:

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+)(USS)

1984-09-27

Welcome to Norfolk Hr. Ms. Issac Sweers F-814, cachet by Tazewell G. Nicholson, Courtesy of the Bob Govern collection.

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USPS Pictorial Postmark

 

USPS Pictorial Cancel "Decommissioning Station" Jacksonville, FL

2005-03-23

Decommissioning. Cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4. USCS

 

Other Information

USS SPRUANCE earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon (2 awards), the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (4 awards), the USCG Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbon w/ Operational Distinguishing Device, the Navy "E" Ribbon (6 awards), the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3 awards) during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance, USN (3 July 1886 - 13 December 1969)
Spruance was a United States Navy admiral in World War II, and commanded US naval forces at the turning point of the Pacific War, the Battle of Midway. After that battle, Spruance went on to command naval forces successfully throughout the course of the war, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines.

The ships sponsor was Ellen Spruance Holscher, Admiral Spruance's granddaughter.

 

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