SIMPSON FFG 56

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Oliver Hazard Perry Class (Long Hull, LAMPS III modified) Guided Missile Frigate Keel Laid 27 February 1984 - Launched & Christened 31 August 1984 USS SIMPSON FFG-56 Commissioned (Special) September 21 1985 Commissioned November 9 1985 - Decommissioned September 29 2015

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Simpson FFG-56 Covers Page 1    (1984-2015)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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Ship Postmarks

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n+)

1985-11-09

Commmissioning

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+)

1992-04-13

Operation Desert Storm Victory cachet.

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS,USN)

1996-07-04

Independence Day, cachet by Gary Rogak

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u)

1992-04-13

Operation Desert Storm Victory cachet.

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USS,USN)

1996-04-13

Collectors Request. Official Ships Cachet.

 

Locy Type 11-1(n+) (USS,USN)

2014-02-26

Collectors Request. Official Ships Cachet. Requested by Richard Hoffner

 

Locy Type F

2014-02-26

Collectors Request. Official Ships Cachet. Requested by Richard Hoffner

 

Locy Type LDC 11-1(n+) (USS,USN)

2015-09-29

Decommissioning. Official Ships Cachet. Collectors Request, requested by Elgin Sink

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USPS Pictorial Postmarks

 

USPS Pictorial "Decommissioning / Station" Jacksonville FL

2015-09-29

Decommissioning. Cachet by Mike Brock

 

Other Information

USS SIMPSON FFG-56 earned the following awards during her Naval career - Combat Action Ribbon; Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon; Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon; Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon; Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (1 award); National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ 4 stars; Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 stars; Global War On Terror Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Ribbon w/ 1 star; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon w/ 1 star; United Nations Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).

NAMESAKE - Rear Admiral Rodger Whitten Simpson, USN (June 4, 1898 – December 10, 1964)
Simpson entered The United States Naval Academy in June 1917. As a Midshipman, he served in USS OHIO BB-12, operating with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I. He was commissioned Ensign in June of 1920, and graduated with the class of 1921. He assumed command of the Destroyer USS MAHAN DD-364, in March of 1941. During that tour, he was awarded The Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism during action against enemy Japanese forces south of the Gilbert Islands in October of 1942. Radm. Simpson received a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Navy Cross while serving as Commander, Destroyer Division 15 for heroism during an engagement with enemy forces in Vella Gulf, Solomon Islands on the night of August 6 1943. On April 6 1944, with the rank of Commodore, Simpson was assigned as Commander, Task Group 30.6 where he planned and organized the rescue of over 7,500 Allied prisoners of war and civilians interned in Japanese concentration camps. For this rescue, he was awarded The Legion of Merit. Radm. Simpson also served tours as Commander, Training Command, Marianas; Commander Fleet Training Group, Western Pacific; Commander, Underway Training Unit , Guam; Commanding Officer, USS ATLANTA CL-104; and Commanding Officer, Naval Station Treasure Islands. He retired in 1951 and passed away in 1964.

The ships sponsor is Mrs. Grace Fowles-Simpson, widow of RAdm. Rodger W. Simpson, USN, Ret.

 

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