The designation USS Luce (DDG‑38) does not correspond to a documented United States Navy vessel in publicly available naval registries, historical records, or reputable reference works. The United States Navy has commissioned two ships named USS Luce, both destroyers:
- USS Luce (DD‑99) – a Wickes‑class destroyer commissioned in 1918 and decommissioned in 1930.
- USS Luce (DD‑522) – a Fletcher‑class destroyer commissioned in 1943, sunk in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa.
No credible source lists a guided‑missile destroyer with the hull number DDG‑38 bearing the name Luce. Consequently, the entry lacks sufficient encyclopedic information.
Possible Interpretation
The name Luce in naval contexts traditionally honors Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce (1827–1917), a notable figure in the development of the United States Naval Academy and the Naval War College. If a ship bearing the hull number DDG‑38 were to be named Luce, it would presumably continue this naming convention.
Conclusion
Given the absence of verifiable records, USS Luce (DDG‑38) is not recognized as an established United States Navy ship. Further details cannot be provided without reliable source material.