Military

FFG 27 Mahlon S. Tisdale

USS MAHLON S. TISDALE was the 19th OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigate and was homeported in San Diego, Calif. After being decommissioned the frigate was given to the Turkish Navy on April 5, 1999, and was renamed GÖKCEADA.

Its mission is to escort and protect convoys, underway replenishment groups, amphibious readiness groups, carrier battle groups and to conduct a variety of independent ship missions as assigned by the fleet commander.

Named for VADM Mahlon Street Tisdale, a highly decorated naval hero and winner of the Navy Cross in both world wars, the ship provided 14 years of vital support to naval operations around the globe. Living up to its motto, "Honor, Country, Courage," Tisdale participated in four Western Pacific/Indian Ocean/Arabian Gulf deployments from 1984 to 1996; five counter- drug out-of-area operations from 1985 to 1995; Operation RIMPAC in 1984 and 1988; Operation PACEX 89; and multiple fleet and joint task force exercises, winning numerous awards throughout the years.