recycling program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Her recycling and scrapping was completed on 12 May 2000. Awards California received a number of awards and commendations during her career. According to the U.S. Navy unit awards site, she received the Meritorious Unit Commendation six times, in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1995 and 1996; she received the Battle Efficiency "E" for outstanding combat preparedness in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998. California was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal three times, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal twice (Persian Gulf 1988 and 1996), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal (1991). Two of the Navy Expeditionary Medals were given for service in 1980 and 1981 and were for "Iran/Indian Ocean." The third was awarded for service in 1987 for "Persian Gulf." In fiction The writer J. Lanier Yeates served aboard USS California in 1974 and 1998. In 2005, he wrote the novel Bay of One Hundred Fires, an alternate history work of fiction in which USS California is overhauled and upgraded, and then plays a key role in fighting the armed forces of the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, who had created a stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. Author Dale Brown featured USS California in his novel Silver Tower. The main character's father was the Commanding Officer. Author Charles D. Taylor has USS California in his novel Show of Force. The book begins on the bridge of USS California. Captains August 1971 – 26 March 1976 Captain Floyd H. Miller, 26 March 1976 – June 1979 Captain William O. Rentz, June 1979 – September 1982 Captain Charles J. Smith, September 1982 – November 1985 Captain Gaylord O. Paulson, November 1985 – August 1988 Captain Richard D. Williams III, August 1988 – December 1991 Captain Barry V. Burrow, December 1991 – January 1995 Captain Ray Wallace, January 1995 – October 1997 Captain Robert P. Perry, October 1997 – 9 July 1999 Captain Steven K. Johnson See also Nuclear powered cruisers of the United States Navy References External links Nvr.navy.mil California-class cruisers 1971 ships Nuclear ships of the United States Navy Ships built in Newport News, Virginia Cold War cruisers of the United States