voyage to north European and Mediterranean waters. Into 1969, Lester continued her vital peacekeeping operations and readiness exercises out of her home port, Newport. In 1970 it was home ported in Naples, Italy and in 1973, Norfolk, Virginia. Decommissioned Lester was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia and stricken from the Navy Register on 14 December 1973. The ship was sold for scrapping on 18 June 1974. References External links Photo gallery at navsource.org Dealey-class destroyer escorts Ships built in Bay City, Michigan 1956 ships Cold War frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States