Great White Fleet postmark used at
164 U.S. Naval locations

By Jay Bigalke

Feb. 22 Great White Fleet postmark being offered at 164 sites.

The United States is celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Great White Fleet with a postmark from the Pentagon and from 163 ships worldwide. All of the postmarks bear a Feb. 22 date.

Varieties of this Feb. 22 United States Navy Great White Fleet centennial postmark are being offered at 164 sites, including the Pentagon.

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned a fleet of battleships to travel the world as a test of Naval readiness and a demonstration of American military strength.

The mission lasted from December 1907 to February 1909.

To request the Pentagon cancel, follow the instructions provided in the nearby box and send your covers to:

GREAT WHITE FLEET Station, 900 Brentwood Road, N.E., Washington, DC 20066-9998.

To request any of the other locations send covers to:

GREAT WHITE FLEET Station, USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN 72, FPO, AP 96612-2872.

• USS Antietam, CG 54, FPO, AP 96660-1174.
  
• USS Anzio, CG 68, FPO, AE 09564-1188.
  
• USS Arleigh Burke, DDG 51, FPO, AE 09565-1269.
  
• USS Asheville, SSN 758, FPO, AP 96660-2414.
  
• USS Ashland, LSD 48, FPO, AE 09564-1736.
  
• USS Austin, LPD 4, FPO, AE 09564-1707.
  
• USS Barry, DDG 52, FPO, AE 09565-1270.
  
• USS Bataan, LHD 5, FPO, AE 09565-1657.
  
• USS Belleau Wood, LHA 3, FPO, AP 96623-1610.
  
• USS Benfold, DDG 65, FPO, AP 96661-1283.
  
• USS Blue Ridge, LCC 19, FPO, AP 96628-3300.
  
• USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD 6, FPO, AP 96617-1656.
  
• USS Boone, FFG 28, FPO, AA 34093-1484.
  
• USS Boxer, LHD 4, FPO, AP 96661-1663.
  
• USS Bulkeley, DDG 84, FPO, AE 09565-1301.
  
• USS Bunkner Hill, CG 52, FPO, AP 96661-1172.
  
• USS Camden, AOE 2, FPO, AP 98799-3013.
  
• USS Cape St. George, CG 71, FPO AE 09566-1191.
  
• USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70, FPO AE 09566-2840.
  
• USS Carney, DDG 64, FPO, AA 34090-1282.
  
• USS Carr, FFG 52, FPO, AE 09566-1506.
  
• USS Carter Hall, LSD 50, FPO AE 09573-1738.
  
• USS Chafee, DDG 90, FPO, AP 96662-1305.
  
• USS Chancellorsville, CG 62, FPO, AP 96662-1182
  
• USS Chosin, CG 65, FPO, AP 96662-1185.
  
• USS Chung-Hoon, DDG 93, FPO, AP 96662-1302.
  
• USS Cleveland, LPD 7, FPO, AP 96662-1710.
  
• USS Cole, DDG 67, FPO, AE 09566-1285.
  
• USS Comstock, LSD 45, FPO, AP 96662-1733.
  
• USS Constitution, Charlestown, MA 02129-1797
  
• USS Coronado, AGF 11, FPO, AP 96662-3330.
  
• USS Cowpens, CG 63, FPO, AP 96662-1183.
  
• USS Crommelin, FFG 37, FPO, AP 96662-1492.
  
• USS Curtis Wilbur, DDG 54, FPO, AP 96683-1272.
  
• USS Curtis, FFG 38, FPO, AP 96662-1493.
  
• USS Cushing, DD 985, FPO, AP 96662-1223.
  
• USS De Wert, FFG 45, FPO, AA 34090-1499.
  
• USS Decatur, DDG 73, FPO, AP 96663-1290.
  
• USS Defender, MCM 2, FPO, AA 34090-1922.
  
• USS Denver, LPD 9, FPO, AP 96663-1712.
  
• USS Devastator, MCM 6, FPO, AA 34090-1926.
  
• USS Dextrous, MCM 13, FPO, AE 09567-1933.
  
• USS Donald Cook, DDG 75, FPO, AE 09566-1294.
  
• USS Doyle, FFG 39, FPO, AA 34090-1494.
  
• USS Dubuque, LPD 8, FPO, AP 96663-1711.
  
• USS Duluth, LPD 6, FPO, AP 96663-1709.
  
• USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN 69, FPO, AE 09532-2830.
  
• USS Elrod, FFG 55, FPO, AE 09568-1509.
  
• USS Emory S. Land, AS 39, FPO, AE 09545-2610.
  
• USS Enterprise, CVN 65, FPO, AE 09543-2810.
  
• USS Essex, LHD 2, FPO, AP 96643-1661.
  
• USS Fitzgerald, DDG 62, FPO, AP 96665-1280.
  
• USS Ford, FFG 54, FPO, AP 96665-1508.
  
• USS Fort McHenry, LSD 43, FPO, AP 96665-1731.
  
• USS Frank Cable, AS 40, FPO, AP 96657-2615.
  
• USS Gary, FFG 51, FPO, AP 96666-1505.
  
• USS George Washington, CVN 73, FPO, AE 09550-2873.
  
• USS Germantown, LSD 42, FPO, AP 96666-1730.
  
• USS Gettysburg, CG 64, FPO, AA 34091-1184.
  
• USS Gonzalez, DDG 66, FPO, AE 09570-1284.
  
• USS Grapple, ARS 53, FPO, AE 09570-3223.
  
• USS Grasp, ARS 51, FPO, AE 09570-3220.
  
• USS Gunston Hall, LSD 44, FPO, AE 09573-1732.
  
• USS Halsey, DDG 97, FPO, AP 96667-1308.
  
• USS Halyburton, FFG 40, FPO, AA 34091-1495.
  
• USS Harpers, Ferry LSD 49, FPO, AP 96667-1737.
  
• USS Harry S. Truman, CVN 75, FPO, AE 09524-2875.
  
• USS Hawes, FFG 53, FPO, AE 09573-1507.
  
• USS Higgins, DDG 76, FPO, AP 96667-1291.
  
• USS Honolulu, SSN 718, FPO, AP 96667-2398.
  
• USS Hopper, DDG 70, FPO, AP 96667-1289.
  
• USS Howard, DDG 83, FPO, AP 96667-1274.
  
• USS Hue City, CG 66, FPO, AA 34091-1186.
  
• USS Ingraham, FFG 61, FPO, AP 96668-1515.
  
• USS Iwo Jima, LHD 7, FPO, AE 09574-1664.
  
• USS James E. Williams, DDG 95, FPO, AE 09578.
  
• USS Jarrett, FFG 33, FPO, AP 96669-1489.
  
• USS John C Stennis, CVN 74, FPO, AP 96615-2874.
  
• USS John F. Kennedy, CV 67, FPO, AA 34095-2800.
  
• USS John L. Hall, FFG 32, FPO, AA 34091-1488.
  
• USS John Paul Jones, DDG 53, FPO, AP 96669-1271.
  
• USS John S. McCain, DDG 56, FPO, AP 96672-1274.
  
• USS Juneau, LPD 10, FPO, AP 96669-1713.
  
• USS Kauffman, FFG 59, FPO, AE 09576-1513.
  
• USS Kearsarge, LHD 3, FPO, AE 09534-1662.
  
• USS Kitty Hawk, CV 63, FPO, AP 96634-2770.
  
• USS Klakring, FFG 42, FPO, AA 34091-1497.
  
• USS Laboon, DDG 58, FPO, AE 09577-1276.
  
• USS Lake Champlain, CG 57, FPO, AP 96671-1177.
  
• USS Lake Erie, CG 70, FPO, AP 96671-1190.
  
• USS Lassen, DDG 82, FPO, AP 96671-1299.
  
• USS Leyte Gulf, CG 55, FPO, AE 09570-1175.
  
• USS Mahan, DDG 72, FPO, AE 09578-1292.
  
• USS Mason, DDG 87, FPO, AE 09578-1302.
  
• USS McCampbell, DDG 85, FPO, AP 96672-1275.
  
• USS McClusky, FFG 41, FPO, AP 96672-1496.
  
• USS McFaul, DDG 74, FPO, AE 09578-1293.
  
• USS McInerney, FFG 8, FPO, AA 34092-1466.
  
• USS Milius, DDG 69, FPO, AP 96672-1286.
  
• USS Mitscher, DDG 57, FPO, AE 09578-1275.
  
• USS Mobile Bay, CG 53, FPO, AP 96672-1173.
  
• USS Momsen, DDG 92, FPO, AP 96672-1307.
  
• USS Monterey, CG 61, FPO, AE 09578-1181.
  
• USS Mount Whitney, LCC 20, FPO, AE 09517-3310.
  
• USS Mustin, DDG 89, FPO, AP 96672-1304.
  
• USS Nashville, LPD 13, FPO, AE 09579-1715.
  
• USS Nassau, LHA 4, FPO, AE 09557-1615.
  
• USS Nicholas, FFG 47, FPO, AE 09579-1501.
  
• USS Nimitz, CVN 68, FPO, AP 96620-2820.
  
• USS Nitze, DDG 94, FPO, AE 09579-1200.
  
• USS Normandy, CG 60, FPO, AE 09579-1180.
  
• USS O'Kane, DDG 77, FPO, AP 96674-1295.
  
• USS Oak Hill, LSD 51, FPO, AE 09573-1739.
  
• USS Ogden, LPD 5, FPO, AP 96674-1708.
  
• USS Oscar Austin, DDG 79, FPO, AE 09581-1298.
  
• USS Paul Hamilton, DDG 60, FPO, AP 96667-1278.
  
• USS Pearl Harbor, LSD 52, FPO, AP 96667-1740.
  
• USS Peleliu, LHA 5, FPO, AP 96624-1620.
  
• USS Philippine Sea, CG 58, FPO, AA 34091-1178.
  
• USS Pinckney, DDG 91, FPO, AP 96675-1306.
  
• USS Ponce, LPD 15, FPO, AE 09582-1717.
  
• USS Port Royal, CG 73, FPO, AP 96675-1193.
  
• USS Porter, DDG 78, FPO, AE 09582-1296.
  
• USS Preble, DDG 88, FPO, AP 96675-1303.
  
• USS Princeton, CG 59, FPO, AP 96675-1179.
  
• USS Ramage, DDG 61, FPO, AE 09586-1279.
  
• USS Rentz, FFG 46, FPO, AP 96677-1500.
  
• USS Reuben James, FFG 57, FPO, AP 96669-1511.
  
• USS Robert G. Bradley, FFG 49, FPO, AA 34090-1503.
  
• USS Rodney M. Davis, FFG 60, FPO, AP 96663-1514.
  
• USS Ronald Reagan, CVN 76, FPO, AP 96616-2876.
  
• USS Roosevelt, DDG 80, FPO, AA 34092-1297.
  
• USS Ross, DDG 71, FPO, AE 09568-1288.
  
• USS Rushmore, LSD 47, FPO, AP 96677-1735.
  
• USS Russell, DDG 59, FPO, AP 96677-1277.
  
• USS Saipan, LHA 2, FPO, AE 09549-1605.
  
• USS Samuel B. Roberts, FFG 58, FPO, AA 34092-1512.
  
• USS Samuel Eliot Morison, FFG 13, FPO, AA 34092-1471.
  
• USS San Jacinto, CG 56, FPO, AE 09587-1176.
  
• USS Shiloh, CG 67, FPO, AP 96678-1187.
  
• USS Shoup, DDG 86, FPO, AP 96678-1300.
  
• USS Shreveport, LPD 12, FPO, AE 09587-1714.
  
• USS Simpson, FFG 56, FPO, AA 34093-1510.
  
• USS Stephen W. Groves, FFG 29, FPO, AA 34091-1485.
  
• USS Stethem, DDG 63, FPO, AP 96678-1281.
  
• USS Stout, DDG 55, FPO, AE 09587-1273.
  
• USS Tarawa, LHA 1, FPO, AP 96622-1600.
  
• USS Taylor, FFG 50, FPO, AA 34093-1504.
  
• USS Thach, FFG 43, FPO, AP 96679-1498.
  
• USS The Sullivans, DDG 68, FPO, AA 34093-1287.
  
• USS Theodore Roosevelt, CVN 71, FPO, AE 09599-2871.
  
• USS Thomas S. Gates, CG 51, FPO, AA 34091-1171.
  
• USS Tortuga, LSD 46, FPO, AE 09588-1734.
  
• USS Trenton, LPD 14, FPO, AE 09588-1716.
  
• USS Underwood, FFG 36, FPO, AA 34093-1491.
  
• USS Valley, Forge CG 50, FPO, AP 96682-1170.
  
• USS Vandegrift, FFG 48, FPO, AP 96682-1502.
  
• USS Vella Gulf, CG 72, FPO, AE 09590-1192.
  
• USS Vicksburg, CG 69, FPO, AA 34093-1189.
  
• USS Wasp, LHD 1, FPO, AE 09556-1660.
  
• USS Whidbey Island, LSD 41, FPO, AE 09591-1729.
  
• USS Winston S. Churchill, DDG 81, FPO, AE 09591-1267.

Instructions for requesting postmarks

The cancellations listed are authorized by the United States Postal Service for the periods indicated. Requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the date of cancellation to qualify for service.

Affix correct postage to an envelope or postcard of your choice and address it to yourself or someone else. Insert cardstock of postcard thickness in the envelope to protect against bending.

Place it in a larger envelope addressed to the station name and to "Postmaster" of the listed city, including the post office address and full nine-digit ZIP code as indicated.

Your envelope or postcard will be returned to you through the mailstream. If you would like your items returned under protective cover, include a larger, addressed envelope franked with 41¢ postage, or an addressed large glassine franked with 17¢ postage. Include a note requesting that the canceled envelope be returned inside the envelope or glassine.

Requests for cancels with stamps and postal stationery not in nationwide release on the date shown in the postmark might not be honored.

UPDATE to previously published U.S. Navy Great White Fleet postmark information

After Linn's issue of March 17 went to press, word arrived that some of the ship postal addresses provided by the U.S. Postal Service may no longer be in service.

It is believed that approximately a dozen ships in the list presented here are no longer in commission, but it is unknown which they are.

Also, some newer commissioned U.S. Navy ships providing postmarks might not be included in this listing.

Collectors planning to send for these ship cancels should proceed with the understanding that there is a chance that requests to some addresses may not be serviced.

The information in this listing is based upon a February 2008 U.S. Postal Service publication, and is provided only as a service to Linn's readers.