Q: Between 1959 and 1963, I served aboard four U.S. naval ships. Could you please tell me their fates? They are the USS Shangri-La, USS O’Bannon, USS Jenkins and USS Sproston. — R.A., Bartonville, Ill.

A: Unfortunately, none of your ships are around anymore. I say that with complete empathy, since the two ships I served on are gone as well. It was very painful when I learned they met the salvage yard fate.

The aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La was decommissioned on July 30, 1971, and berthed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On July 15, 1982, it was removed from the Naval Vessel Register, but remained as a spare parts vessel for the USS Lexington. On Aug. 9, 1988, the Shangri-La was sold for scrap and towed to Taiwan to be demolished.