About

The light blue represents the Medal of Honor, the dark blue represents the ocean, and the five stars are in the formation of the constellation "Southern Cross" which comes from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion crest, signifying PFC Johnson's service in the United States Marine Corps. The trident is a traditional naval symbol and the flame emission symbolizes the Integrated Air and Missile Defense system aboard our ship.

The Vietnamese dragon is associated with water and is considered to have authority over life and death. Dragons are responsible for rain, without which life could not continue. The single star above the dragon signifies the life Ralph Johnson saved that earned him the Medal of Honor.

Representing both officer and enlisted, on left side of the crest is the USN Officer's sword and a USN CPO cutlass; on the right side a USMC Officer's Mameluke and a USMC NCO sword.

Our ship’s motto stays true to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion warrior mentality, "CELER SILENS MORTALIS" ("Swift Silent Deadly").