USS Antietam (CG 54) was named after a major battle in the American Civil War fought along Antietam Creek near the town of Sharpsburg in northwestern Maryland. It was the climax to the first of General Robert E. Lee's two major attempts to bring the war home to the North. Fought on 17 September 1862, it is renowned as the bloodiest single day in American military history. Though the battle ended in a tactical draw, it was a northern victory strategically because Lee was forced to withdraw, give up the offense, and resume a defensive posture in northern Virginia.

Illustration: Battle of Antietam, the charge of Iron Brigade near the Dunker Church, on the morning of 17 September 1862. Painting by Thure de Thulstrup (1846–1930). Chromolithograph published in 1887 by Louis Prang and Company. Source: website of the Old Print Shop, New York City.

An SH-60 Seahawk helicopter from HSL-43 departs the USS Antietam (CG 54), during fleet operations in the Western Pacific

U.S. Navy Photo #970930-N-0000U-006.

2 August 1998 - Starboard bow view of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) steaming back to Hawaii at the end of exercise RIMPAC '98.

U.S. Navy photo #DN-SD-00-01206 by: PH1 (NAC) James G. McCarter.

4 February 1997 - The USS Antietam (CG 54), underway during operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The AEGIS cruiser was attached to the Kitty Hawk Battle Group during their 96-97 deployment.

U.S. Navy Photo #970204-N-0226M-001.

USS Antietam (CG 54) during refueling at sea with the Canadian ship NSSM Preserver (AOR 509) on 27 November 2001 in the Arabian Sea.

Picture taken by Cplc Brian Walsh.

USS Antietam (CG 54) during refueling at sea with the Canadian ship NSSM Preserver (AOR 509) on 27 November 2001 in the Arabian Sea.

Picture taken by Cplc Brian Walsh.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 18 December 2001 - The guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) moves alongside the Japanese supply ship JDS Hamana (AOE 424) for a refueling at sea (RAS). This is the first time the two ships will conduct an RAS together. Both ships are part of the joint military forces supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Navy Photo #011218-N-9236M-079 by Lieutenant Commander Bob Meeker.

Naval Station San Diego, CA, 15 January 2003 - The Guided Missile Cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) gets a little assistance from a tug as she leaves her berth. USS Antietam is part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Battle Group.

US Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd class Michael D. Kennedy.

9 July 2003 - The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) pulls pier side at the Inner Fremantle Harbor. Antietam’s crew will by enjoying a few days of liberty and tours of the surrounding areas. Antietam is part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group currently on an extended deployment operating off the coast of Western Australia.

U.S. Navy photo #030709-N-9236M-018 by Lt. Cmdr. Bob Meeker.

Pacific Ocean, 14 August 2007 - USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Groups transit in formation during a joint photo exercise (PHOTOEX) during Valiant Shield 2007, the largest joint exercise in the Pacific this year. Held in the Guam operating area, Valiant Shield 2007 included 30 ships, more than 280 aircraft and more than 20,000 service members from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

The aerial formation, led by an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, consists of aircraft from the carrier strike groups as well as Air Force aircraft. Ships are, left to right: guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90); nuclear-propelled aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), followed by the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and the guided missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and USS Pinckney (DDG 91); nuclear-propelled attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767); aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), followed by the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) and guided missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89); nuclear-propelled attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722); nuclear-propelled aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), followed by the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and the guided missile destroyers USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS O'Kane (DDG 77); the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer on the extreme right has not been positively identified, but is possibly USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60).

U.S. Navy photo #070814-N-6009S-001 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hana'lei Shimana.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 6 August 2007 - The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) commences her approach alongside the Military Sealift Command fast-combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) for a replenishment-at-sea (RAS). The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability.

U.S. Navy photo #070806-N-3038W-246 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 6 August 2007 - The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) comes alongside the Military Sealift Command fast-combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) for a replenishment-at-sea (RAS). Antietam and Bridge is part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability.

U.S. Navy photo #070806-N-7498L-156 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 20 August 2007 - Guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) passes Hospital Point as she pulls into Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled port visit. Antietam deployed as part of John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability.

U.S. Navy photo #070820-N-6660K-118 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Krucke.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 29 October 2008 - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) transit the ocean during a simulated Strait Transit with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Antietam are part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group conducting a composite training unit exercise off the coast of Southern California.

U.S. Navy photo #081029-N-8157C-228 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Denny Cantrell.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 29 October 2008 - An MH-60S Sea Hawk from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 flies past the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) during a simulated strait transit with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Antietam are part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group conducting a composite training unit exercise off the coast of Southern California.

U.S. Navy photo #081029-N-8157C-129 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Denny Cantrell.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 7 May 2009 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) receives supplies from an SA-330 Puma helicopter assigned to the Military Sealift Command combat support ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) during a vertical replenishment. Antietam, as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Navy photo #090507-N-2475A-144 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate

SOUTH CHINA SEA, 3 November 2013 - The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) refuels the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) during a replenishment at sea (RAS). George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Navy photo #131103-N-BD107-125 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Liam Kennedy

WATERS TO THE WEST OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA, 23 July 2014 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) fires its 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise. Antietam is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Navy photo #140723-N-ZZ786-242 by Mass Communication Seaman David Flewellyn

PACIFIC OCEAN, 23 September 2014 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Shiloh (CG 67), foreground, USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) from the George Washington and Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Groups transit in formation at the conclusion of Valiant Shield 2014. The U.S.-only exercise integrates Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets.

U.S. Navy photo #140923-N-ZS026-573 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Trevor Welsh

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Tortora, Robert Parris, CAPT