The ship once known as the U.S.S. David R. Ray (DD-971) was sunk this week off the coast of Hawaii by a test torpedo fired from an Australian ship. The test was part of the Pacific Rim exercises (RIMPAC) held annually between the U.S. and allied navies.

The Ray, a Spruance-class destroyer built in 1977 was home-ported in Everett, Washington, after 1996. By the time I knew her, she was a hapless old Spru-can. But for 25 years she took men and women to sea and brought them home again, and along the way launched tomahawks and served as the test platform for the RAM system. When a warship is older than its officers, it is time to retire.

Adios, David R. Ray. Rest well.