USS David R . Ray ( DD - 971 ) USS " David R . Ray " ( DD - 971 ) , named for Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray , a sailor killed in 1969 and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor , was a " Spruance " - class destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula , Mississippi . Ship ' s history . USS " David R . Ray " ( DD - 971 ) was commissioned on 19 November 1977 in Pascagoula . The principal speaker was the Honorable James R . Sasser , U . S . Senator from Tennessee . Mrs . Donnie M . Ray , HM2 Ray ’ s mother and the ship ’ s sponsor , was also in attendance . On the voyage from Pascagoula to her new homeport of San Diego , the " David R . Ray " passed through the Panama Canal . " David R . Ray " , nicknamed " Sting Ray " , crossed the equator for the first time on 16 May 1978 . On 19 February 1979 , she became the first ship to intercept a supersonic drone with the NATO RIM - 7 Seasparrow Missile System . The ship first deployed on 8 September 1979 and made port calls in Pearl Harbor , Guam , Yokosuka , Inchon , Subic Bay , and Hong Kong . In 1982 , " David R . Ray " went through her first major overhaul in Seattle , Washington . On 18 October 1983 , " David R . Ray " began another " WESTPAC " to the $ 3 and Indian Ocean . After port visits to Pearl Harbor , Subic Bay , Pusan , Chinhae , Hong Kong and Pattaya , the ship participated in a joint Thailand - U . S . naval exercise . Later , the " Ray " spent 54 continuous days underway , spanning from the northwest Indian Ocean to northernmost Sea of Japan following and performing surveillance operations ( SURVOPS ) on the newest Soviet carrier , " Novorossiysk " . Late in 1984 , " David R . Ray " became the Navy ’ s primary test platform for the Rolling Airframe Missile ( RAM ) System . On 15 January 1986 , " David R . Ray " deployed with Battle Group Foxtrot . During this deployment , the ship made worldwide news when it prevented the boarding of the U . S . Vessel President McKinley by an Iranian Saam class frigate on 12 May 1986 . " David R . Ray " ' s second major overhaul began in June 1988 , which coincided with the ship ’ s shift of homeport from San Diego to Long Beach , California . During this overhaul , the ship received a Vertical Launch System . After the overhaul , the ship completed four CNO projects , including RAM , NATO Seasparrow RIM - 7P , BGM - 109 Tomahawk Block 2 and ASROC . " David R . Ray " deployed on 27 April 1990 and was in the Persian Gulf at the onset of Iraq ' s invasion of Kuwait . The ship played a critical role in the early stages of Operation Desert Shield before returning to the United States . Deploying again to the Middle East Force on 22 April 1992 , the ship served as flagship during Maritime Interception Force Operations before returning to Long Beach , California on 22 October 1992 . " David R . Ray " deployed to the Persian Gulf in October 1994 and served as flagship to Commander , Destroyer Squadron Fifty conducting Maritime Interception Operations in boarding numerous suspect vessels resulting in the diversion and detention of three vessels . Upon return from deployment in April 1995 , the ship continued a very fast operational tempo , including trips to Catalina Island , Seattle Sea Fair , and San Francisco Fleet Week . " David R . Ray " completed a nine - month regular overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard in June 1996 and then a homeport change to Everett , Washington in July 1996 . The ship completed a full workup cycle before deploying on 20 May 1997 to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf as senior ship of a Middle East Force / Surface Action Group . During this deployment , the ship conducted 49 boardings and over 700 flight hours in support of Maritime Interception Operations . Upon return in November 1997 , the ship went into holiday stand down and commenced a nine - week maintenance availability on 11 February 1998 which ended 15 April 1998 . " David R . Ray " spent the remainder of 1998 preparing for its next deployment . On 9 March 1999 , " David R . Ray " received no notice tasking to act as the Surface Action Group Commander for the sinking of the M / V " New Carissa " off the coast of Oregon . The ship ’ s quick response and control of the elements of the Surface Action Group averted a potentially disastrous oil spill . The ship and her crew earned the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Device for its participation in this effort . On 16 April 1999 the " David R . Ray " deployed to the Persian Gulf on PACMEF 99 - 2 as the Surface Action Group Commander . The ship and crew conducted 55 boardings and over 850 hours of flight operations . " David R . Ray " was again in the news when her crew helped to delivery a healthy baby girl on aboard an Iraqi ferry . The ship returned to its homeport on 4 October 1999 . Since returning from deployment , " David R . Ray " participated in various training opportunities , including Anti - Air Warfare and Naval Surface Fire Support exercises . Prior to the ship ’ s change of command on 29 April 2000 , " David R . Ray " visited Puerto Vallarta and escorted the ex - USS " South Carolina " ( CGN - 37 ) as she was towed to Bremerton , Washington for deactivation and nuclear - powered vessel recycling . Fate . On 28 February 2002 , USS " David R . Ray " was decommissioned and spent its remaining years anchored in Sinclair Inlet off Highway 303 in Bremerton , Washington . On 17 June 2008 , the ex - USS " David R . Ray " was towed by fleet tug to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii where she was to be sunk as a target as part of the annual RIMPAC exercises . ex - " David R . Ray " was sunk during RIMPAC 2008 on 11 July 2008 by fire from eight U . S . and Japanese ships along with three aircraft using naval artillery and Harpoon missiles . ex - " David R . Ray " sank after sunset that night . Ship ' s crest . The coat of arms of " David R . Ray " serves as a heraldic reminder of the ship ' s namesake . The light blue center section and white inverted star allude to the Medal of Honor pendant . The light blue and two Navy blue stripes represent the courage , perseverance and selfless devotion of Petty Officer Ray in the performance of his duties as corpsman with Battery D , Second Battalion , Eleventh Marine Division ( reinforced ) , Fleet Marine Force in Vietnam . The battery ' s position is indicated by the scarlet and gold embattled border . Navy blue , gold and scarlet are the colors of the Navy and Marine Corps . The navy blue caduceus , the insignia worn by hospital corpsmen in the navy , along with the howitzer cartridges allude to the medical services the Navy provides to the Marine Corps . In particular , they symbolize the action in which Petty Officer Ray , though fatally wounded , gave medical assistance and protection to wounded Marine comrades . The ship ' s motto , " Determined , Ready , Resourceful " alludes to the initials of Petty Officer Ray and epitomizes his legacy to the ship that bears his name . The motto served as a guide and inspiration for the men and women who served on the " David R . Ray " throughout the years .