USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) was a Charles F. Adams class guided missile armed destroyer named for Henry Braid Wilson Jr., an Admiral in the United States Navy during World War I. She was laid down on February 28, 1958 by Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan; launched on April 22, 1959; sponsored by Mrs. Patrick J. Hurley, daughter of Admiral Wilson; and commissioned on December 17, 1960.

Henry B. Wilson was the first ship of her size to be side-launched and when launched was the largest warship ever constructed on the Great Lakes. Because of these unique circumstances, she was christened not with the traditional champagne but with a bottle filled with water from the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Since her commissioning, Henry B. Wilson has participated in twelve cruises to the Western Pacific. During the conflict in Vietnam she served as plane guard for carriers on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf, participated in Sea Dragon operations, patrolled on search and rescue duties and carried out naval gunfire support missions. From 1965 to 1973 she fired over 50,000 rounds in several hundred fire missions against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong targets. While on a 1975 cruise to the Western Pacific, she participated in the Cambodian and Vietnam evacuations and in the recovery of SS Mayaguez from Cambodia.

As a result of her ability to perform under pressure, Henry B. Wilson has been awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E”, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. She was decommissioned on October 2, 1989 and sunk as a target ship on August 15, 2003.

At Maritime Modelworks, we bring ordinary wood models to life. Each museum quality USS Henry B. Wilson ship model is created step-by-step meticulously. No machines are involved in the process; everything is made by hand. Skilled craftsmen chip away at a piece of mahogany until a ship appears, which is then sanded and puttied. Hand-casted resin and handmade metal parts are also added. Gifted artists paint on the colors and all details, no matter how big or small. Afterwards, clear lacquer is applied for protection. Each model ship is complemented with a handsome display base with brass pedestals and a brass name plate. Products are always double-checked before being delivered to customers in professionally-packaged double-lined boxes with high density foam.