Today's classic warship, USS Juneau (CL-119)
Juneau class light cruiser
Displacement. 6,000Lenght. 541'6"Beam. 53'2"Draft. 16'4"Speed. 32 k.Complement. 623Armament. 12 5", 2 3-pdrs., 24 40mm., 4 20mm.
The USS Juneau (CL-119) was laid down by Federal Shiphuilding Co., Kearny, N.J., 16 September 1944; launched 15 July 1945, sponsored by Mrs. E. L. Bartlett; and commissioned 15 February 1946, Captain Rufus E. Rose in command.
Juneau spent her first year of commissioned service in operations along the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean. Prior to the Korean War, she deployed three times in the Mediterranean. The ship cleared New York 16 April 1947, and joined the 6th Fleet at Trieste 2 May where she aided in stabilizing the unresolved question of territorial ownership between Italy and Yugoslavia. During an extended tour of Greece, she provided ample warning to the communists that aggression would not go unchallenged. The ship returned to Norfolk 15 November for training, and was back on duty with the 6th Fleet from 14 June to 3 October 1948 and again from 3 May to 26 September 1949. As on her first cruise, she ranged the Mediterranean to assure Europeans and Africans of our intention to guard world peace and freedom.
Having been reclassified CLAA-119 on 18 March 1949, Juneau departed Norfolk 29 November for the Pacific. She arrived Bremerton, Wash., 15 January 1950 and took part in operations along the Pacific coast. On 22 April she became flagship for Rear Admiral J. M. Higgins, Commander CruDiv 5, and reported for duty in Yokosuka, Japan, 1 June where she began surveillance patrols in the Tsushima Straits. When the Korean War broke out on 25 June, Juneau was one of the few ships immediately available to Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Commander of Naval Forces, Far East. Juneau became the first U.S. warship to enter combat against the invading North Korean forces. She patrolled south of the 38th parallel to prevent enemy landings, conducted the first shore bombardments 29 June at Bokuko Ko, destroyed enemy shore installations, engaged in the first naval action 2 July when she sank three enemy torpedo boats near Chumonchin Chan, and supported raiding parties along the coast. On 18 July Juneau's force, which included British units, laid down a deadly barrage on enemy troop concentrations near Yongdok which slowed down the North Korean advance southward.
The ship departed Sasebo Harbor 28 July and made a sweep through Formosa Straits before reporting for duty with the 7th Fleet at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 2 August. She became flagship of the Formosa Patrol Force 4 August, remaining until 29 October when she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force operating off the east coast of Korea. The ship conducted daily plane guard for the attack carriers, and returned to Long Beach, Calif., 1 May 1951 for overhaul and a period of operations off the Pacific coast and in Hawaii. She returned to Yokosuka 19 April 1952 and conducted strikes along the Korean coast in coordination with carrier planes until returning to Long Beach 5 November.
Juneau engaged in training maneuvers and operations until 7 April 1953 when she arrived Norfolk to rejoin the Atlantic Fleet. On 13 May the cruiser departed for duty with the 6th Fleet once again, and returned home 23 October. She operated in the Atlantic and Caribbean until 18 November 1954, then returned to the Mediterranean for her last tour of duty. After her return to the East Coast 23 February 1955, she was placed in reserve at Philadelphia 23 March 1956, and remained inactive until decommissioned 23 July 1956. The ship was then attached to the Philadelphia Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until 1 November 1959 when she was struck from the Navy List. Juneau was sold for scrapping to Union Metal & Alloys Corp., New York, in 1962.
Juneau received five battle stars for Korean War service.