San Diego Bids Farewell to the Proud USS Cowpens After Three Decades of Service
In a solemn gathering under a fittingly somber sky on Aug. 27, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens was officially retired by the U.S. Navy. The decommissioning ceremony took place at Naval Base San Diego, bidding a definitive farewell to a warship that has proudly borne the name ‘Cowpens’ across the high seas for over 30 years.
Launched in Charleston back in 1991, the USS Cowpens – a veteran ship named after a seminal Revolutionary War battle fought near Spartanburg County – made its mark in notable military operations during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. It was the second ship to bear the prestigious name. Its predecessor, the first USS Cowpens, sailed for four years during World War II, from 1943-47.
Triumph and Closure for a Town’s Legacy
Speaking from a deeply personal connection to this remarkable vessel, Teresa Clark, the civic-minded town clerk of Cowpens, was present at the decommissioning ceremony, joined by other town leaders. Clark, a native of the town also named after the historic battle, had witnessed the ship’s launch over three decades ago and was understandably moved to see its naval journey come to a close.
Quoting Clark, “It was a quiet and somber experience.” Yet, within the sentiment of loss, there was appreciation for the testament the ship stood for, “It was kind of sad but at the same time, it was good to see the ship and the crewmen.”
In a testament to the enduring legacy of the ship, memorabilia from the USS Cowpens will be displayed at the Cowpens Depot Museum and Civic Center. The museum has a dedicated wing exhibiting items from both the Cowpens ships, thereby preserving a tactile record of the town’s maritime heritage.
Heading to the Pages of History
The decommissioned warship will now be towed to the Navy’s Inactive Ship facility in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it will be in a Logistic Support Asset status. Acknowledging the ship’s hefty service history, the commanding officer of the USS Cowpens, Cmdr. Jac O. Ullman III, said the guiding principle during the ship’s last chapter was to honor the legacy of Cowpens – in the words of Ullman himself, “To honor the grit, determination, and creativity of the Continental Army and Militiamen from that cold battlefield.”
A Patriotic Tradition Continues
Each year in June, the town of Cowpens pays tribute to its historical namesakes with an annual celebration known as the Mighty Moo Festival – a fond nickname that the first USS Cowpens earned for itself. Despite its decommissioning, Clark assured that the festival, enhanced by connections made with service members at the ceremony, should carry on undeterred, promising “We look forward to the festival continuing. We don’t look in any way that it will hinder the festival.”
The Battle Behind the Name
Unfolding almost 250 years ago, the Battle of Cowpens on Jan. 17, 1781, witnessed Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan lead American revolutionary forces to a pivotal victory against Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and British forces. This defining event of the American Revolution in the South took place in present-day Cherokee County. Today, a national battlefield preserves the very same pastureland where military genius was at play – a history both the town and the ships of Cowpens hold dear.
As this distinguished warship sails into retirement, the enduring bond between the residents of Cowpens and their namesake vessel remains as resolute as ever. The town continues to carry forward their historical narrative from the 1700s through to the present day.”
