Throughout its history, the yard has been associated with names like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Kennedy. Kings and queens have visited the yard; its waterfront has seen many historic moments; and some of our Navy's most senior and most notable officers have called it home. Such legendary ships as USS Constitution and USS Constellation sailed from its piers, and the 14-inch and 16-inch guns that armed our Navy's battleships during Word Wars I and II were built in its factories.

Edward J. Marolda is the senior historian and chief of the Histories and Archives Division at the Naval Historical Center (NHC) in Washington, D.C. He holds a Ph.D. from George Washington University. Dr. Marolda oversaw preparation of the NHC's Korean War commemorative series, initially produced as booklets and now published in book form by the Naval Institute Press with the center's cooperation. Project contributors include Thomas B. Buell, Joseph H. Alexander, Bernard C. Nalty, Richard C. Knott, and Malcolm Muir Jr., with additional essays for this book by Thomas J. Cutler and Curtis A. Utz.