VALDEZ FF 1096

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.

Knox Class Destroyer Escort Keel Laid 30 June 1972 - Launched 24 March 1973 USS VALDEZ DE-1096 Commissioned 27 July 1974 USS VALDEZ FF-1096 Reclassified Frigate (FF) 30 June 1975 Decommissioned 15 December 1991 Stricken from Naval Register 11 January 1995 KI YANG FF-939 Leased to Taiwan 29 April 1998 and renamed Arrived in Taiwan 4 October 1999 - Commissioned 18 October 1999

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).

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1. USS Valdez DE-1096 / FF-1096 Covers Page 1    (1974-1979)

 

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

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n) (DE,USS)

1974-07-27

DE-1096. Ship's Commissioning cachet

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (FF,USS)

1979-11-06

FF-1096. Official Ship's cachet

 

Locy Type 2-1(n) (DE,USS)

1979-05-22

Note:

 

Locy Type 9-1e(nu) (DE,USS)

1979-11-06

FF-1096. Even though VALDEZ was redesignated FF in 1975, DE postmark still being used.

 

Other Information

USS VALDEZ earned two (2) Navy Battle "E" Ribbons, two (2) National Defense Service Medals, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the CG Special Operations Service Ribbon during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Hospitalman Third Class Phil Isadore Valdez, USN (13 April 1946 - 29 January 1967)
Valdez enlisted in the Navy on November 1 1965. After completing basic training, he was trained at the Naval Hospital Corps School at San Diego, CA. Advanced to the rating of hospitalman in May 1966, Valdez served at the Naval Hospital, Key West, FL., until 19 December 1966 at which time he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, Fleet Marine Force, serving ashore in Vietnam near Danang.
On the morning of 29 January 1967, Valdez was assigned as Corpsman with the 3d Platoon when that unit was flown in by helicopter to provide support for the embattled Company "H," 2d Battalion. Upon landing, Valdez' unit came under heavy sniper fire, and several Marines went down as a result. The hospitalman sprang into action instantly. First, he ran about 70 meters across open land being raked by enemy fire to aid a fallen Marine. He helped that man to a safer place and quickly dressed his wounds. After completing that task, he dashed back out into the hail of fire to assist another wounded Marine some 50 meters away. Upon reaching his new charge, he positioned himself so as to protect the wounded man from the enemy fire and began to dress his wound. At that point, the enemy got his range; and Valdez fell to their fire, mortally wounded. His ". . . heroic action and selfless devotion to duty . . ." saved the lives of two wounded Marines and, in recognition of his ". . . conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action," HN Valdez was advanced to the rate of Hospitalman, Third Class, and awarded the Navy Cross, both posthumously.
HN Valdez's medals and ribbons are: Navy Cross Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/ Palm Ribbon and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Manuelita Valdez, the mother of Hospitalman Third Class Valdez.

 

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