Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	33k	Petty Officer Wayne M. Caron, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon corpsman with Company K, during combat operations against enemy forces. While on a sweep through an open rice field Petty Officer Caron's unit started receiving enemy small-arms fire. Upon seeing 2 Marine casualties fall, he immediately ran forward to render first aid, but found that they were dead. At this time, the platoon was taken under intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire, sustaining additional casualties. As he moved to the aid of his wounded comrades, Petty Officer Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire. Although knocked to the ground, he regained his feet and continued to the injured Marines. He rendered medical assistance to the first Marine he reached, who was grievously wounded, and undoubtedly was instrumental in saving the man's life. Petty Officer Caron then ran toward the second wounded Marine, but was again hit by enemy f ire, this time in the leg. Nonetheless, he crawled the remaining distance and provided medical aid for this severely wounded, man. Petty Officer Caron started to make his way to yet another injured comrade, when he was again struck by enemy small-arms fire. Courageously and with unbelievable determination, Petty Officer Caron continued his attempt to reach the third Marine until he was killed by an enemy rocket round. By his inspiring valor, steadfast determination, and selfless dedication to duty, Petty Officer Caron reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. /s/ Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States		Bill Gonyo
	15k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	23k	Undated, © Atlantic Fleet Sales. Photo by Nobe Smith.		Joe Radigan
	62k	Undated postcard Copyright © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.		Mike Smolinski
	129k	Undated, location unknown.		Joe Gardella
	85k	Undated, location unknown.		Joe Gardella
	88k	Undated, location unknown.		Joe Gardella
	125k	Undated view of the USS Peterson (DD-969), USS Caron (DD-970) and USS David R. Ray (DD-971) under construction at Pascagoula, MS from the NAVSEA Journal.		Bob Bush
	63k	Undated, location unknown.		Robert Hurst
	66k	Undated, location unknown. Photo from Jane's Battleships of the 20th Century, by Bernard Ireland.		Robert Hurst
	184k	USS Caron (DD-970) tied up pierside at Norfolk, VA., 1978. Photo courtesy of Karsten Petersen.		Robert Hurst
	42k	Atlantic Ocean, 12 December 1979, aerial view of the USS Independence (CV-62) battle group as it heads home from deployment in the Mediterranean Sea. The ships are, clockwise from top, USS Farragut (DDG-37), USS McCandless (FF-1084), USS Independence (CV-62), USS Detroit (AOE-4), USS Garcia (FF-1040), USS Mahan (DDG-42), USS Caron (DD-970) and USS Peterson (DD-969). US Navy photo by PHC C. Pedrick (DVIC id: DNSC8200297).		Defense Visual Information Center
	46k	New Orleans, LA April 1980.		Marc Piché
	66k	Norfolk (NOB) June 30 1980.		Marc Piché
	33k	In the Mediterranean June 1981.		Marc Piché
	268k	DN-SC-85-07100. January 1 1985, artwork: "USS Caron Neutralizes Radio Free Grenada - Beausejour Bay". Artist: Unknown. U.S. Navy Combat Art Center, Washington Navy Yard. U.S. Navy photo by the Navy Audiovisual Center.		Robert M. Cieri
	98k	March 8 1985, location Unknown. A starboard bow view of the Spruance class destroyer USS Caron (DD 970 ) underway.		Fred Weiss
	137k	In the floating drydock USS Sustain AFDM-7, August 1985 Norfolk, VA.		Rick Rowan
	149k	January 1 1988 at Genoa, Italy.		Carlo Martinelli
	130k	January 1 1988 at Genoa, Italy.		Carlo Martinelli
	65k	12 Feb 1988 Naval action near Foros Crimea.		-
	68k	February 12 1988, Black Sea, a Soviet Mirka II class light frigate (FFL 824) approaches the destroyer USS Caron (DD 970 ) as it prepares to strike the American vessel. The Caron is exercising the right of free passage through the Soviet-claimed 12-mile territorial waters.		Fred Weiss
	60k	As above.		Fred Weiss
	37k	As above.		Fred Weiss
	53k	This and the next photo were taken in early 1990 off the coast of VA. We had just left Avondale Shipyard after the VLS installation. This was the ship's configuration for Desert Storm.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	67k	As above.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	67k	NATO Sea Sparrow shot during CSSQT (Combat Systems Ship Qualification Test) in Puerto Rican Operating Area in March 1990. Telemetry bird scored a hit.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	55k	Portsmouth, England April 18 1995.		Marc Piché
	90k	Barcelona, Spain April 30 1998.		Marc Piché
	64k	Barcelona, Spain April 30 1998.		Marc Piché
	96k	Barcelona, Spain May 4 1998.		Marc Piché
	65k	USS Caron DD 970 entering Gibraltar on 1st June 1998.		© Daniel Ferro
	68k	USS Caron DD 970 entering Gibraltar on 1st June 1998.		© Daniel Ferro
	34k	Norfolk (NOB) July 24 1998.		Marc Piché
	31k	Norfolk June 7 1999.		Jack Treutle
	68k	Naval Station Norfolk, Va., October 13 1999, a Boatswain's Mate discusses the use of a needlegun Secretary Danzig during a demonstration onboard USS Caron (DD 970) in Norfolk, Va. The tools displayed on the table are examples of new equipment being incorporated into shipboard workcenters as part of the Smart Work program initiated by the Secretary.		Bill Gonyo
	217k	In La Spezia, Italy on September 13, 2000.		Carlo Martinelli
	165k	Leaving La Spezia, Italy on September 18, 2000.		Carlo Martinelli
	61k	The final moments of the USS CARON. She was sunk December 4th, 2002, 75nm S. of Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico during explosive test. She was intended to survive these tests and scheduled to be sunk as a target later in 2003, but secondary explosions caused her to sink.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	54k	As above.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	50k	As above.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	67k	As above.		Joe Gardella, LCDR, USNR
	68k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
	86k	Ship's Zippo circa 1976.		John A. Altfeltis

CDR Earle Godfrey Schweizer Jr.    Oct 1 1977 - Jul 26 1979

CDR David Peter Yonkers    Jul 26 1979 - Jun 23 1981

CDR David Gordon Kaiser    Jun 23 1981 - Aug 24 1983

CDR James Stanley Polk    Aug 24 1983 - Dec 3 1985

CDR Louis Francis Harlow Jr.    Dec 3 1985 - Apr 16 1988

CDR John Zigmund Stepien    Apr 16 1988 - Oct 18 1990

CDR Brent Baker Gooding    Oct 18 1990 - Jul 17 1992

CDR Peter Dante Squicciarini    Jul 17 1992 - Apr 15 1994

CDR Steven William Nerheim    Apr 15 1994 - Jan 31 1996

CDR James Robert Miller    Jan 31 1996 - Aug 22 1997

CDR Joseph Carl Peterson Jr.    Aug 22 1997 - Apr 9 1999

CDR William James Harden    Apr 9 1999 - Oct 21 2000

CDR William Morales    Oct 21 2000 - Oct 10 2001

Back To The Main Photo Index

To The Destroyer Index Page

Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster