USS Vreeland ( FF - 1068 ) USS " Vreeland " ( FF - 1068 ) was a of the United States Navy . The ship was named for Rear Admiral Charles E . Vreeland ( 1852 – 1916 ) . " Vreeland " ( DE - 1068 ) was laid down on 20 March 1968 by the Avondale Shipyard at Westwego , La . ; launched on 16 June 1969 ; sponsored by Mrs . Jamie L . Whitten , wife of the Congressman representing Mississippi ' s 2nd Congressional district ; and commissioned at Charleston , S . C . , on 13 June 1970 , Comdr . David R . Stefferud in command . Operational history . After fitting out at Charleston and shakedown training in the West Indies , " Vreeland " returned to Charleston to join Destroyer Squadron ( DesRon ) 4 . She completed repairs in February 1971 and final contract trials in March and then began preparations for her first deployment to the Mediterranean area . The warship departed Charleston on 15 April and arrived in Rota , Spain , on the 25th . During the next six months , she steamed the length and breadth of the " middle sea " as a unit of the 6th Fleet . She visited numerous ports and participated in a host of exercises with American and Allied naval forces . She concluded that tour of duty at Gibraltar on 8 October when she changed operational control back to the 2d Fleet and headed home . The warship arrived in Charleston on the 16th and resumed 2d Fleet operations out of Charleston . Mediterranean Sea . In the summer of 1972 , the ship began preparations for another cruise in the Mediterranean Sea . That deployment , however , proved different than the previous one . Rather than deploying for six months and then returning home to Charleston , " Vreeland " received orders changing her home port to Athens . That assignment lasted for the next three years rather than the normal six months and included the relocation of " Vreeland " dependents to Athens — all as a part of the Navy ' s forward deployment program . During those three years , she performed the normal duties of a unit of the 6th Fleet , visiting ports , conducting exercises , and performing surveillance of Soviet ships operating in the Mediterranean . Reclassification and overhaul . On 1 July 1975 , " Vreeland " was reclassified a frigate and redesignated FF - 1068 . Three days later , she departed Greece to begin her voyage back to the United States . The warship concluded that voyage , and her three - year deployment , at Philadelphia on 30 July . After post - deployment standdown , she moved south to Norfolk in September for repairs but returned to Philadelphia in October in time to participate in the Navy ' s 200th birthday celebration on the 13th . Duty as a surface warfare school ship and more repairs at Norfolk followed . On 6 December , the frigate entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , where she spent the following year undergoing a major overhaul , which she completed on 2 December 1976 . The warship resumed duty as an active unit of the Fleet early in 1977 . Refresher training and various qualification exercises out of her new home port of Mayport , Florida , occupied her during the first six months of 1977 . On 25 July , she departed Mayport for a cruise to South America to participate in UNITAS XVIII , the annual series of exercises in which units of various South American navies join the United States Navy in practicing the skills of hemispheric defense . In November , she concluded her UNITAS cruise and reentered Mayport on the 25th . Leave and upkeep in port took up her time for the remainder of the year . Middle East . A part of January and February 1978 was devoted to a restricted availability for " Vreeland " . The frigate devoted the ensuing months to preparations for her forthcoming deployment to the Middle East . " Vreeland " departed from Mayport on 23 July in company with Mullinix ( DD - 944 ) . Following fuel stops at Bermuda , the Azores , and Rota , Spain , the ships transited the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal and arrived at Port Sudan , Sudan , on 9 August . A turnover from Glover ( AGFF - 1 ) and Barney ( DDG - 6 ) was effected , and " Vreeland " joined the Middle East Force . The remainder of the year was spent in operations with that group . On 31 December , " Vreeland " and Mullinix retransited the Suez Canal on their return to the United States . Operations Just Cause , Desert Shield and Desert Storm . Operation Just Cause ( Panama ) 20 December 1989 – 31 January 1990 In December 1990 , " Vreeland " departed Mayport , Florida , to take part in Operation Desert Storm , 17 January – 28 February 1991 . During " Vreeland " s transit to the Persian Gulf , members of the crew were assigned to the Multi - national Interception Force . This MIF team was divided into two groups ; MIF teams blue and gold . The purpose of this group was to board merchant vessels to ensure cargo was in compliance with United Nations trade embargoes imposed on Iraq . MIF conducted more than 41 boardings , and diverted or confiscated tons of contraband . " Vreeland " was decommissioned on 30 June 1992 . On 11 January 1995 , the " Vreeland " was stricken from the American Naval Vessel Register . Greek service . The ship was renamed " Macedonia " ( F458 ) , and leased to Greece under the Foreign Assistance Act , 30 June 1992 . " Macedonia " was decommissioned from the Hellenic Navy in January 1999 .