DDG 106 Is named after Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, the highest-ranking naval officer ever held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. His plane was shot down Sept. 9, 1965, while flying combat missions over North Vietnam. Stockdale spent more than seven years in captivity at prisons in North Vietnam, including time at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." Four of those years were spent in solitary confinement. While imprisoned, Stockdale is credited with organizing a set of rules to govern the behavior of fellow prisoners of war and for helping to develop a code for prisoners to communicate with each other that included tapping on cell walls. In recognition of his leadership and sacrifice he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976.

May 10, 2008 PCU Stockdale was christened in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Sybil Stockdale served as sponsor of the ship named for her husband. Cmdr. Frederick W. Kacher is the prospective commanding officer.

October 10, The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the guided-missile destroyer Stockdale from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works during a ceremony in Bath, Maine, Sept. 30.

April 18, 2009 USS Stockdale is commissioned during an 11:00 a.m. ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, Calif. The ship will be homeported in San Diego.

September 1, 2010 DDG 106 participated in a tactical manuevering exercises, as part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group, off the coast of southern California.

November 30, USS Stockdale departed Naval Base San Diego for a maiden deployment.

January 11, 2011 The guided-missile destroyer arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, for a scheduled port call. USS Stockdale, USS Gridley (DDG 101) and embarked detachments of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 maneuvered and conducted helicopter operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JS Kurama (DDH 144), during the morning portion of the Passing Exercise (PASSEX), Jan. 10.

February 12, The Stockdale is currently participating in a training exercise Cobra Gold 2011, off the coast of Thailand, with the Essex (LHD 2) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

March 11, DDG 106 anchored off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, for a goodwill port visit.

March 22, USS Stockdale recently arrived at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa for a routine port call.

April 5, The guided-missile destroyer pulled into Fleet Activities Sasebo for a routine port visit.

April 14, The Stockdale pulled into Sepanggar naval base for a goodwill visit to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

June 9, DDG 106 recently pulled into Pearl Harbor for a routine port call.

July 3, USS Stockdale recently returned to Pearl Harbor for the Independence Day celebration after a week of testing and training.

July 22, USS Stockdale returned to San Diego after an extended eight-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

September 21, The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the coast of southern California conducting operations with the USS Carl Vinson CSG.

October 14, Cmdr. Jeffrey A. Bennett II relieved Cmdr. Alexis T. Walker as CO of the Stockdale during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Naval Base San Diego.