Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico Naval Station Patch

Roosevelt Roads Naval Station Patch 4.5" x 4.5" Embroidered Patch with Iron-On Backing

Superior Materials: Made with premium polyester thread and durable twill fabric, ensuring long-lasting color and strength.
Advanced Embroidery Technology: Crafted using the most advanced embroidery machinery, guaranteeing intricate detail, sharp lines, and consistent quality every time.
Easy Iron-On Application: Features a heat-activated adhesive backing for quick, no-sew attachment. Simply position, iron, and press for a secure bond.
Versatile Use: Perfect for personalizing jackets, backpacks, uniforms, or any fabric surface that needs a touch of personality.
Durable and Washable: Designed to withstand everyday wear and occasional washing without fading or fraying.

Formations & Origins
Naval Station Roosevelt Roads was a cornerstone of U.S. Navy operations in the Caribbean for nearly six decades. Located on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico near the town of Ceiba, the base was named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who first proposed its construction in 1919 following a strategic assessment of the region’s naval needs. However, it wasn’t until the outbreak of World War II in 1941 that construction truly began, with the base officially commissioned in 1943.

Its location was ideal—close to the Panama Canal, within reach of the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters, and set in terrain that allowed for rapid deployment and expansive training.

Notable Commanders
Over the decades, Roosevelt Roads was commanded by a series of accomplished Navy captains and rear admirals. While none may be household names, the leadership stationed there shaped crucial Cold War and anti-submarine strategies in the Atlantic. The commanding officers often coordinated directly with U.S. Southern Command and the Atlantic Fleet.

Notably, the base served as a launching point for exercises involving admirals leading multi-national operations in the Caribbean Basin and hosted leaders overseeing counter-drug operations and regional humanitarian missions.

Major Campaigns/Operations
Roosevelt Roads played a vital role in numerous global and regional missions:

• World War II: Functioned as a seaplane base and surveillance outpost against German U-boats patrolling the Caribbean.

• Cold War: Became a central hub for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance of Soviet vessels, and joint training with NATO allies.

• 1983 Grenada Invasion (Operation Urgent Fury): Served as a staging ground for air and naval assets used in the rapid U.S. intervention.

• Counter-Narcotics Operations: Provided logistics and air support for DEA, Coast Guard, and Navy missions targeting drug trafficking through the Caribbean corridor.

• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief: Functioned as a rapid-deployment point for relief missions following hurricanes in the region, including aid flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond.

Specialized Role/Equipment
The base was equipped with some of the best infrastructure in the Caribbean:

• A 10,000-foot runway used for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft

• A large port capable of docking warships and supply vessels

• Submarine monitoring and undersea surveillance gear

• Communications and radar systems that allowed for early warning and coordination

• Extensive training ranges, including live-fire zones and amphibious landing sites

Roosevelt Roads also supported the nearby Vieques Naval Training Range—where Marine Corps and Navy units trained in realistic amphibious assault and bombardment drills for decades.

Acts of Heroism
Although Roosevelt Roads itself was not a battlefield, heroism echoed through its halls in the form of sailors and Marines who trained there and went on to perform with valor overseas. Its squadrons deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia; its aircrews supported rescue missions during natural disasters; and its logistics teams enabled life-saving aid operations across Latin America.

The base was often the last U.S. soil touched before heading into combat—and the first beacon seen upon return.

Legacy & Notable Achievements
Roosevelt Roads was decommissioned in 2004, its mission folded into broader Navy realignment and cost-cutting measures. But its impact still resonates.

Thousands of sailors trained, deployed, and returned through its gates. Puerto Rican service members found opportunities and community at its facilities. And for the Navy, it was a crown jewel in a strategic region—providing eyes, ears, and strength in a turbulent hemisphere.

Today, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who served there. Some buildings have been repurposed, and parts of the base now support civilian aviation and commerce—but to those who wore the uniform, Roosevelt Roads will always be a name etched with pride.

This patch honors that legacy—of service under the Caribbean sun, of missions that kept enemies at bay and brought hope to devastated shores. It represents a chapter in naval history as vibrant and resilient as the island it called home.