ALL HANDS! Your ship needs you. PRESERVING THE HISTORIC FLEET An important part of the mission of Tin Can Sailors is supporting the Historic Fleet . Since 1992, Tin Can Sailors has provided over $2M in grants to US destroyer museum ships.  In order to continue to support these ships, we have launched a charitable giving campaign. Watch the video Campaign Goals: This Year and Future Years Ian W. Toll Tin Can Sailors Honorary Chairman 2018 Tin Can Sailors is raising money to make grants each year, and also to establish an investment fund which will be designed to be a perpetual funding source for the ships.  We want to make a substantial award of grants each year, and at the same time contribute to this fund.  Money raised and not distributed to the ships each year will become part of this investment.  Our long-term goal is to reach over $2,000,000 in this fund, which would generate money to make annual awards to the ships for years to come.  We dream of leaving this legacy to America's destroyer museum ships, so that they know they will always have our support to keep their stories -- our memories -- alive.               Please join us by becoming a donor to our                Destroyer Museum Grant Program today.  Click here to donate Campaign Patches   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015                     2016 2017             Our Historic Ships To remember these ships is to never forget the cost of freedom. USS THE SULLIVANS (DD-537) Fletcher Class, moored in Buffalo, New York This ship is named for five brothers who insisted on serving together and died together.  She carries a name that evokes the stunning sacrifices made by the sailors, their families and their communities. USS KIDD (DD-661) Fletcher Class, moored in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Flying the Jolly Roger and called the Pirate of the Pacific? as a tribute to her namesake, Rear Admiral Isaac (Cap?) Kidd, she withstood terrifying air and sea attacks to earn eight Battle Stars in WWII and four more in Korea. USS LAFFEY (DD-724) Sumner Class, is moored at Patriots Point, South Carolina She is nicknamed the ship that would not die for taking down half the 22 aircraft attacking it, despite losing a third of their crew.  The Laffey earned five Battle Stars in WWII and two more in Korea. USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, JR. (DD-850) Gearing Class, is moored at Battleship Cove, Massachusetts The ship was launched as World War II was ending and earned two Battle Stars in Korea, screening attack carriers during a critical juncture in the conflict.  In addition to protecting lives and shores in the Far and Middle East, Europe and the US, she served extensively as a training ship until her last cruise in 1972. USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) Forrest Sherman Class, is moored in Bremerton, Washington The ship is known for its protective role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident that escalated US involvement in Vietnam.  The Turner Joy�s service as gunfire support vessel in Southeast Asia earned her nine Battle Stars as the conflict in Vietnam wore on throughout the 1960s. USS ORLECK (DD-886) Gearing Class, is moored in Lake Charles, Louisiana The ship has been relocated to Lake Charles, Louisiana and reopened as a museum.  She is one of the last of the war-designed destroyers.  Much effort went into repairing the damage inflicted by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and although the ship is open again, much more work needs to be done. USS EDSON (DD-946) Forrest Sherman (Hull) Class, is moored in Bay City, Michigan Located for many years as part of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, she was then returned to the US Navy.  The ship was relocated to the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City, Michigan.  She is once again open as a museum. back to top