The Valor Vault

11/11/2025

Today, we pause to recognize the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. To every veteran—thank you.

Thank you for answering the call when so many could not.
Thank you for your courage in the face of uncertainty.
Thank you for the sacrifices you made, both seen and unseen.
Thank you for standing watch over our freedoms, our homes, and our future.

The cost of service is immeasurable—time away from loved ones, challenges carried quietly, and moments that shape a lifetime.

We honor not only your service, but your strength, resilience, and dedication. We remember the sacrifices that you made, the battles that you fought, and the legacy that you continue to carry.

Thank you so very much.

30/10/2025

USS Louisville (CA-28) was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser that played a vital yet often overlooked role in the Pacific Theater of World War 2. While her exploits were overshadowed by the more famous heavy cruisers like USS Indianapolis and USS San Francisco, Louisville's contributions were no less vital to final victory. From es**rting convoys and providing fire support during key amphibious landings, to surviving several devastating kamikaze attacks, "Lady Lou" often demonstrated exceptional resilience and versatility in the face of adversity. Louisville was awarded 13 battle stars for her service during the Pacific War.

USS Louisville (CA-28) was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser that played a vital yet often overlooked role in the Pacific Theater of World War 2. While her e...

25/10/2025

USS Johnston (DD-557) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that earned a legendary place in naval history for its heroic actions during the Battle off Samar in World War II. Despite being vastly outgunned and outnumbered by a superior Japanese fleet, Johnston, under the command of Commander Ernest E. Evans, fiercely defended the vulnerable American es**rt carriers she had been tasked with protecting during the Battle of Samar on 25 October 1944. Her courageous crew fought with incredible valor, launching relentless attacks that helped turn the tide of the battle.

USS Johnston (DD-557) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that earned a legendary place in naval history for its heroic actions during the Battle off Samar in Wor...

25/10/2025

USS Princeton (CVL-23) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that made significant contributions to the US war effort in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. She participated in several critical battles, such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her journey ended tragically when she was struck by one, well placed bomb from a Japanese dive bomber on the morning of October 24th, 1944. Despite heroic efforts by her crew and the crews of several other US warships, most notably the light cruiser USS Birmingham, she succumbed and went to the bottom with 108 brave souls.

USS Princeton (CVL-23) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that made significant contributions to the US war effort in the Pacific Theater durin...

12/10/2025

USS Intrepid was the 3rd member of the famed Essex class to be built, and overall the 4th ship in the United States Navy to bear the name Intrepid. While serving in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War, she suffered four kamikaze strikes and a torpedo hit. After serving well into the Cold War era, she has been preserved as a floating museum and is moored along the Hudson River in New York City, where she stands as a tribute to the perseverance and sacrifice of the men of the United States Navy. Intrepid earned five battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for her WW2 service, and a further 3 battle stars for her Vietnam service.

USS Intrepid was the 3rd member of the famed Essex class to be built, and overall the 4th ship in the United States Navy to bear the name Intrepid. Throughou...

02/10/2025

USS New York (BB-34) was the lead ship of her class and the 5th warship overall to be named in honor of the Empire State. She ushered in the use of the 14-inch gun, and her design was the last to feature the five-turret layout, as well as the last to use coal for fuel. Nicknamed The Old Lady later in her career, New York saw action in both world wars and is believed to be the only US warship to sink a submarine, albeit accidentally, during the 1st World War. During the 2nd World War, she was the jack of all trades for the US Navy, as she did everything that could be asked of a battleship, from gunfire support, to convoy es**rt, to even being a gunnery training ship at one point. After being used as a test subject during the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests, New York was unceremoniously sunk as a target ship about 40 miles off the coast of Oahu.

USS New York (BB-34) was the lead ship of her class and the 5th warship overall to be named in honor of the Empire State. She ushered in the use of the 14-in...

26/09/2025

USS San Juan (CL-54) was an Atlanta-class light cruiser that played a critical role in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Commissioned in 1942 with her formidable battery of sixteen 5-inch dual-purpose guns and an array of smaller-caliber weapons, she specialized in anti-aircraft defense. San Juan carved out a reputation as a guardian of the fleet, her guns dominating the skies and fending off relentless waves of enemy aircraft. San Juan was awarded 13 battle stars for her World War 2 service.
https://youtu.be/QBszWvZC30c

USS San Juan (CL-54) was an Atlanta-class light cruiser that played a critical role in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Commissioned in 1942, she was des...

20/09/2025

USS Mississippi (BB-41) had a distinguished and diverse career spanning almost 40 years. Commissioned in 1917, the New Mexico-class battleship and served in the Atlantic during World War I, but played a much more active role in World War II. There, she participated in major operations including the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the invasions of the Philippines and Okinawa, providing critical naval gunfire support. After the war, she was converted into a gunnery training ship and supported weapons testing, including early missile development, before being decommissioned in 1956.

USS Mississippi BB 41 - "From Big Guns to Guided Missiles"USS Mississippi (BB-41) had a distinguished and diverse career spanning almost 40 years. Commission...

20/09/2025

USMC airborne training over San Diego during the 1920s

19/09/2025

Commissioned a mere 8 days after the conclusion of World War 2, USS Midway (CV/CVB/CVA-41) was the lead ship of her class and represented a significant advancement in aircraft carrier design and capability. Named for the US Navy’s landmark victory in June of 1942, her career spanned nearly five decades, and she participated in several major events of the Cold War, Vietnam, and Operation Desert Storm. Today, she is preserved as a museum in San Diego, where she commemorates the technological progress and enduring legacy of the United States Navy.

Commissioned a mere 8 days after the conclusion of World War 2, USS Midway (CV/CVB/CVA-41) was the lead ship of her class and represented a significant advan...

28/05/2024

My hometown ship 💙💙💙

28/05/2024