Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) celebrated the ship’s 24th birthday, which was Feb. 11, on the ship’s mess decks, Feb. 16.

The celebration included a speech from the ship’s commanding officer, cake and an ice cream social to commemorate the day Boxer was commissioned as an amphibious assault ship and donned the hull number 4.

“This ship has a long lineage of success,” said Capt. Ronald A. Dowdell, commanding officer of Boxer. “24 years of service, 12 Battle Efficiency awards.” Dowdell said that being awarded the Battle Efficiency award means you’re the best ship of your class.

The current Boxer is the sixth iteration in the ship’s extensive history, with the keel laid on April 8, 1991, in Pascagoula, Miss. The ship was launched Aug. 13, 1993 and commissioned February 11, 1995, with Capt. Robert E. Annis in command.

The name Boxer comes from HMS Boxer, a Bold-class gun-brig launched in 1812. The ship was encountered and captured by the USS Enterprise off the coast of Portland, Maine, on Sept. 5, 1813.

“During the first volley the two captains of the ships were killed immediately,” said Dowdell. “The USS Enterprise prevailed that day and took ownership of the Boxer from the British Navy.”

The fifth (CV 21) was launched on Dec. 14, 1944 and commissioned on 16 April 16, 1945. Boxer was reclassified CVA 21 in October 1952 and CVS 21, Nov. 15, 1955.

“The last ship named Boxer was CV 21 or CVS 21 Boxer. It was built in 1945, too late to participate in World War II, but she was an essential player in the Korean conflict,” Dowdell said. “You can’t talk about Korea without talking about the Boxer.”

“This ship is great and it’s been great throughout the history of the U.S. Navy because of the men and women that served on this ship” said Dowdell. “Today we celebrate our lineage and our opportunity to serve aboard Boxer.”

Boxer is underway conducting routine operations as a part of USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

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