Charles R. Ware (DD-865) was launched 12 April 1945 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y.; sponsored by Mrs. Z. Ware; and commissioned 21 July 1945, Commander H. R. Wier in command.

From her home ports at Norfolk, Va., and after December 1950, Newport, R.I., Charles R. Ware operated through 1960 on the demanding schedule of the Atlantic Fleet. Along with many deployments to the Mediterranean and northern Europe, she carried out the intensive training and overhaul necessary to keep her ready for any emergency as well as her usual activities.

Her first major cruise, between 1 March and 9 April 1946, was to northern waters, where she aided in developing techniques for cold we-ether operations, crossing the Arctic Circle. Shortly thereafter she carried out the first of several operations through which she aided in maintaining the readiness of other forces, as she served as target ship for submarines training off New London, Conn. The tenth of November 1947 found her underway for the Mediterranean, and her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet. After exercising with this force, and calling at ports of northern Europe, she returned to Norfolk 11 March 1948. Her next tour of duty in the Mediterranean came in 1949, during which for 2 weeks she patrolled off the Levant Coast under the direction of the United Nations Palestine Truce Commission. Through two cruises to the Caribbean in the summer of 1949, Charles 17. Ware aided in the training of members of the Naval Reserve, then took part in a large scale Arctic operation before preparing for a 1950 tour with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. Her 1951 tour was highlighted by operations with ships of the Royal Hellenic Navy.

Following her 1953 tour, she conducted antisubmarine warfare exercises with British ships off Northern Ireland, calling then at ports in Ireland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, and Belgium. Later that year she took part in exercises with the carrier HMCS Magnificer off Narragansett Bay. Early in 1954 she returned to the Mediterranean once more, for a tour of duty which included participation in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation. Her 1955 deployment began with antisubmarine warfare exercises with the Royal Navy off Northern Ireland, and was followed by her 6th Fleet duty. In summer 1956, she carried midshipmen on a summer training cruise to Northern Europe. The year 1957 was marked by assignment to escort the ship carrying King Saud of Saudi Arabia into New York harbor for his state visit, and a European cruise during which she exercised with Spanish destroyers. That fall she put to sea for North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises and on 20 January 1958, she rescued a downed pilot from Essex (CVA-9) while conducting air operations off the east coast. Shortly thereafter she cleared for the Mediterranean once more. During the summer of 1959, Charles R. Ware took part in the historic Operation "Inland Sea," the first passage of a naval force through the Saint Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. She took part in the Naval Review in Lake Saint Louis on 26 June, which was taken by Queen Elizabeth II of England and President D. D Eisenhower, and sailed on to call at a number of United States and Canadian ports.

During her 1960 Mediterranean tour, she carried German naval observers during an exercise in the Ionian Sea. Part of US naval blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. --During mid 1960s, engaged in intelligence-gathering activities. --From February to September 1967 cruise from NS Mayport to Tonkin Gulf and back. In combat zone from April to August. Engaged in combat operations during Operation Sea Dragon within a mile of the coast of North Vietnam and plane guarded with carriers on Yankee Station. In ports on the cruise included Guantanamo, Rodman, Pearl, Midway, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Kaoshiung, Subic, San Francisco and Acapulco. The June 1967 mid-east war which closed the Suez canal derailed the round-the-world cruise plans while on station in Tonkin Gulf. Stricken November 30 1974 and sunk as target in Caribbean November 15 1981.