USS Mars (AFS-1) 1980 Cruise Sweatshirt

USS Mars (AFS-1) was the lead ship of the Mars class of combat stores ships, commissioned on 21 December 1963 at National City, California. Named for the Roman god of war, she was built to provide underway replenishment of ammunition, provisions, and stores to combatant ships at sea. Mars served with the Pacific Fleet throughout the Cold War, supporting operations in the Western Pacific and sustaining fleet readiness across decades of service. This sweatshirt commemorates her 1980 cruise, honoring the crew who served aboard during that deployment. She was decommissioned in 1993 after 30 years of distinguished service.