USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier launched in 1944 and active in World War II and the Vietnam War. Though damaged in battle, she had a happy end, training for recovery of Apollo missions for NASA and ultimately being sold for scrap. She received a total of seventeen battle stars, three Navy Unit Commendations, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Ticonderoga was responsible for damage and/or destruction of at least 27 Japanese ships and at least 126 Japanese planes, including kamikazes. Additionally, she was part of a task force that sank an amazing 44 Japanese ships on January 12, 1945.
The ship was damaged by kamikazes twice on January 21, 1945. After sustaining damage in a first attack, she was a target for subsequent missions later in the day; during that day well over a hundred crew members’ lives were lost, including that of her captain, Capt. Dixie Kiefer.
Ticonderoga was close by when word of first attacks by the North Vietnamese Navy were felt by other American ships. She reacted quickly and helped destroy enemy planes and bases.
Between 1965 and 1966, she supported well over 10,000 combat sorties from off the coast of Vietnam. The following winter, she delivered a repeat performance, with even more sorties against targets in North Vietnam. The same happened in 1968.