A 33-year-old Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, the USS Cowpens, was decommissioned this week at Naval Base San Diego, the Navy announced.
The Cowpens participated in many operations and exercises over the decades, from enforcing no-fly zones to conducting maritime security operations and providing disaster relief.
Hundreds gathered to celebrate the ship’s distinguished history of naval service. In attendance was the ship’s first commanding officer, retired Vice Adm. Edward Moore…