Oregon has more ties to the U.S. Navy than one might initially think.
For starters, Oregon's state colors are Navy blue and gold. At least 30 ships have been named after the state of Oregon, its cities, places and people. Three ships bear the state's name, including the future
USS Oregon (SSN 793), a
Virginia-class attack submarine. The first
Oregon was used for expeditions and surveying in the late 1800s. The second was a
battleship best known for its roles in the Spanish American War when it helped destroy Admiral Cervera's fleet and in the Philippine-American War; it performed blockade duty in Manila Bay and off Lingayen Gulf, served as a station ship, and aided in the capture of Vigan.
The state can also boast the hometown of heroes and leaders like
Samuel Booker Roberts, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving on the crew of a landing craft that, despite intense enemy fire, rescued stranded Marines from Guadalcanal. Oregon is home to two Navy Operational Support Centers, which are facilities used to provide operational support for training and administrative services to Navy Reserve units.
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