When you think of South Dakota, you may not immediately think of the U.S. Navy. But, did you know at least 9 ships have been named after the state, its cities, places, and people? Here are a couple:
USS South Dakota (BB 57)
USS South Dakota, lead ship of a class of 35,000-ton battleships, was built at Camden, New Jersey. She was commissioned in March 1942 and in August was transferred to the Pacific where she was soon involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign.
USS South Dakota was the most decorated battleship during WWII!
USS Rushmore (LSD 47) During her first six-month deployment, Rushmore spearheaded the beach landing on Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, the military humanitarian operation to provide food and medical relief to the starving Somalis.