USS Hewitt ( DD - 966 ) USS " Hewitt " ( DD - 966 ) , named for Admiral H . Kent Hewitt USN ( 1887 – 1972 ) , was a built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula , Mississippi and launched on 14 September 1974 by Mrs . Leroy Hewitt Taylor and Mrs . Gerald Hewitt Norton , daughters of Admiral Hewitt . History . " Hewitt " was the fourth of the " Spruance " - class destroyers . Known as the " Greyhounds of the fleet " for their speed , versatility and reliability , they were the largest general purpose destroyers ever to fly the flag of the United States . " Hewitt " was commissioned on 25 September 1976 . After an intensive period of initial training , " Hewitt " deployed to the Western Pacific in September 1978 and was assigned to the U . S . 7th Fleet . In addition to serving as a front line unit , " Hewitt " also acted as a good will ambassador with port visits to Australia , New Zealand , Fiji and Hong Kong . " Hewitt " returned to San Diego in April 1979 . In preparation for her next deployment , " Hewitt " participated in a multinational Rim - of - the - Pacific ( RIMPAC ) battle group exercise in February and March 1980 . She departed on her second overseas deployment on 15 May 1980 . During that deployment , " Hewitt " and other members of Battle Group Charlie operated in the Indian Ocean to show U . S . resolve to protect free world access to Middle East petroleum resources , and to help obtain the release of 52 Americans held hostage in Iran . " Hewitt " earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal for her contributions . During the latter part of the deployment , " Hewitt " also earned the Humanitarian Service Medal for rescuing a group of Vietnamese boat refugees adrift in the South China Sea . For her superior performance , " Hewitt " was awarded the Battle " E " as the most outstanding ship in Destroyer Squadron 21 ( DesRon 21 ) from 1979 to 1980 . " Hewitt " entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 19 May 1981 for its first regular overhaul . Extensive modifications were performed to improve survivability , and new combat systems capabilities were added to improve quick reaction to missile attacks . After a rigorous re - qualification and retraining period , " Hewitt " departed on 21 March 1983 for its third deployment . Highlights included a three aircraft carrier fleet exercise with , and , and independent operations in the South China Sea . " Hewitt " departed on her fourth deployment on 18 October 1984 . Once again a member of Battle Group Charlie , she spent seven highly successful months in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans . In January 1985 , " Hewitt " set a record at the Tabones Firing Range in the Philippines by earning the highest score ever recorded at the range for Naval Gunfire Support ( NGFS ) exercise . From February to April 1985 , " Hewitt " operated in the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman . For its achievements during the deployment , " Hewitt " received the Meritorious Unit Commendation . " Hewitt " returned home to San Diego on 24 May 1985 . On 1 September 1985 , " Hewitt " and other members of Destroyer Squadron 31 became the first Pacific Fleet Anti - Submarine Warfare Squadron . The squadron ' s basic mission was to locate and track submarines in the Eastern Pacific , to develop USW tactics and training , and to serve as a ready response force under Commander , U . S . 3rd Fleet . From September 1985 to April 1987 , " Hewitt " and the other ships in DesRon 31 set new standards of excellence in USW . During " Hewitt " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s second overhaul ( May 1987 to November 1988 ) at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company Shipyard in San Diego , California , she underwent a modernization which included installation of the Vertical Launch System , the Tomahawk Missile System , the Close - In Weapons System ( CIWS ) , LAMPS MK III , and the SQQ - 89 Sonar System . After a brief but extensive training and inspection cycle , " Hewitt " joined DesRon 21 and once again deployed to the Persian Gulf on 18 September 1989 . " Hewitt " ' s fifth Western Pacific deployment ended on 16 March 1990 . Five months later , " Hewitt " was underway to her new homeport at Yokosuka , Japan . " Hewitt " joined Destroyer Squadron 15 on 25 August 1990 . In Yokosuka , she operated with numerous multi - national forces , including the Japanese Maritime Self - Defense Force , and the South Korean , Bruneian , Greek , French , Spanish , Australian , Saudi Arabian , Russian , British , and Singaporean navies . " Hewitt " participated as flagship for Maritime Interception Force ( MIF ) Commander Red Sea for Boarding Operations in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 as part of United Nations sanctions against Iraq . " Hewitt " concluded an intensive six month deployment to the Persian Gulf in April 1993 . Her seventh deployment was highlighted by a Tomahawk strike against Iraq and combined operations with numerous navies , the Russian destroyer . " Hewitt " also served as Maritime Action Group ( MAG ) Commander in October 1993 , helping to develop the new MAG warfare concept . " Hewitt " was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the 1992 – 1993 Persian Gulf deployment and the U . S . 7th Fleet ' s USW Excellence Award for 1993 . Following a brief maintenance availability in early 1994 . " Hewitt " participated in RIMPAC ' 94 . Directly following the exercise , " Hewitt " conducted live missile firings near Barking Sands , Kauai , Hawaii which included a successful NATO Sea Sparrow engagement and the first fleet firing of the Penguin anti - ship missile with HSL 51 Detachment 6 on 25 June 1994 . " Hewitt " again deployed to the Persian Gulf on 5 September 1994 as a primary component of the multinational Middle East peacekeeping unit , enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq . " Hewitt " returned to Yokosuka , Japan 10 January 1995 and received U . S . 7th Fleet ' s Surface Warfare Award for 1994 . On 17 March 1995 , " Hewitt " entered the yards for an extended availability period which ended 5 September 1995 . Afterwards , " Hewitt " participated in several multinational USW exercises and was awarded the Battle " E " for her performance in 1995 . On 3 June 1996 , " Hewitt " deployed to the Persian Gulf for Middle East Force deployment ( MEF ) 96 - 2 . While supporting U . S . 5th Fleet operations , " Hewitt " participated in Operation Desert Strike and launched two Tomahawk missiles on 4 September 1996 against Iraq . " Hewitt " received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for her actions during the deployment and returned home to Yokosuka , Japan on 30 October 1996 . In March 1997 , " Hewitt " conducted battle group exercises with and in April Destroyer Squadron 15 for the Sharem 120B exercise in the Yellow Sea conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy . In May " Hewitt " entered an availability and received the women at - sea modification to berth the first females permanently assigned to the ship . The first female Sailors reported on board in July . On 24 August 1997 , " Hewitt " departed Yokosuka , Japan for a homeport change to NS San Diego , California . " Hewitt " joined Destroyer Squadron 23 on 29 August 1997 during her transit to San Diego . On 27 January 1999 , " Hewitt " deployed to the Persian Gulf for Middle East Force Deployment ( MEF ) 99 - 1 . In support of U . N . Sanctions against Iraq . " Hewitt " conducted visit , board , search and seizure of merchants in the area . " Hewitt " returned to San Diego on 26 July 1999 followed by a two month Selected Restricted Availability which ended 7 November 1999 . Fate . " Hewitt " was decommissioned 19 July 2001 ; she was sold for scrap to International Shipbreaking , Incorporated , of Brownsville , Texas on 9 August 2001 . She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 5 June 2002 .