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HISTORY
 USS
New Jersey (BB-62; "Big J" or "Black Dragon") is an Iowa-class
battleship, and was the second ship of the United States Navy to be
named in honor of the US state of New Jersey. New Jersey earned more
battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed
Iowa-class battleships, and was the only US battleship providing
gunfire support during the Vietnam War.
During World War II, New Jersey shelled targets on Guam and Okinawa,
and screened aircraft carriers conducting raids in the Marshall
Islands. During the Korean War, she was involved in raids up and
down the North Korean coast, after which she was decommissioned into
the United States Navy reserve fleets, better known as the "mothball
fleet". She was briefly reactivated in 1968 and sent to Vietnam to
support US troops before returning to the mothball fleet in 1969.
Reactivated once more in the 1980s as part of the 600-ship Navy
program, New Jersey was modernized to carry missiles and
recommissioned for service. In 1983, she participated in US
operations during the Lebanese Civil War.
New Jersey was decommissioned for the last time in 1991 (after
serving a total of 21 years in the active fleet), having earned a
Navy Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam and 19 battle and
campaign stars for combat operations during World War II, the Korean
War, the Vietnam War, the Lebanese Civil War, and service in the
Persian Gulf. After a brief retention in the mothball fleet, she was
donated to the Home Port Alliance in Camden, New Jersey, and began
her career as a museum ship from 15 October 2001.
In brief facts
World War II (1944–1945)
Shakedown and service with the 5th Fleet, Admiral Spruance
Service with the 3rd Fleet, Admiral Halsey
Service with Battleship Division Seven, Admiral Badger
Post World War II (1946–1950)
The Korean War (1950–1953)
Post Korean War (1953–1967)
The Vietnam War (1967–1969)
Post Vietnam War (1969–1982)
Reactivation (1982)
Lebanese Civil War (1983–1984)
Post-Lebanese deployment (1984–1990)
Reserve fleet and museum ship (1991–present)
Awards
Among other awards, New Jersey earned the Navy Unit Commendation for
Vietnam service, the Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of
the Philippines, and the Presidential Unit Citation from the
Republic of Korea. She received nine battle stars for her World War
II service, four for her service in the Korean War, two for her
service in the Vietnam War, and four for service in Lebanon and the
Persian Gulf region. Due to her outstanding service record, New
Jersey holds the distinction of being the most decorated battleship
in US history.
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