The USS David R. Ray, named for Medal of Honor recipient David R. Ray, was commissioned on December 19, 1977, as a versatile multimission destroyer capable of operating independently or as an integral part of a powerful battle group. The principal mission of the ship was to detect, classify, and engage hostile submarines. The ship’s motto, Determined, Ready, Resourceful, mirrored the initials of the marine for whom it was named. The ship was officially decommissioned on February 28, 2002.