Caron was laid down by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi on 1 July 1974.
She was commissioned on 1 October 1977.

In August 1979 Soviet planes staged a mock missile attack against the Caron in the Black Sea.

In late October, 1983 the Caron participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the vicinity of Grenada.
Near H-hour on D-Day, Oct. 25, 1983, the Caron recovered a 20-man Navy SEAL/Air Force reconnaissance team from waters off the island's southwest coast.
The recon team had sortied from the USS Clifton Sprague to assess the condition of a 9,000-foot runway then under construction by Cuban workers at Point Salines.
Heavy swells swamped the engines of the team's small boats before they could reach shore.
The Caron spotted them drifting offshore as dawn approached.
Much later that day, the Caron recovered 10 more SEALs from the waters northwest of the island's capital after another commando team was driven off a radio transmitter site by a Grenadian counter-attack.
The next afternoon, the Caron made yet a third recovery.
The destroyer took aboard 11 Army Rangers on a raft who had been left behind on Grand Anse Beach following the successful helicopter rescue of 233 medical students and staff from St. George's University School of Medicine’s beachfront campus.

From November 1983 to March 1984 Caron was part of the Multi National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon.

On 10 March 1986, Caron departed Norfolk, Virginia with the America carrier battle group, for a Mediterranean deployment.
During this deployment, the Action in the Gulf of Sidra took place during a freedom of navigation exercise in the Gulf of Sidra.
This action saw U.S. Navy fighter aircraft shoot two Libyan Air Force fighters down.
On 23 March 1986, operating with Ticonderoga and Scott, Caron moved south of the Libya–claimed "Line of Death".
Libya reacted with two days of low intensity conflict in which Caron did not fire any weapons.

On 12 February 1988 Caron was lightly rammed by Soviet Mirka II class light frigate (FFL 824) in the Black Sea.

On 15 February 1990 Caron completed a regular overhaul.

Caron was deployed to the Middle East after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and from 14 January 1991 she participated in Operation Desert Storm.

On 14 October 1993 she began participation in United Nations-mandated, U.S.-executed sanctions enforcement operations against Haiti.
She was one of six US Navy ships prepositioned off Haiti as a result of an order by President Bill Clinton.
Clinton's order allowed the ships to be in position to enforce United Nations sanctions fully on the date at which they went into effect.

In April 1995 Caron took part in a NATO mine countermeasures exercise off Denmark.

From January to July 1996 she deployed to the Persian Gulf upholding United Nations sanctions against Iraq and aiding in Operation Southern Watch.

From February to 3 July 1998 she deployed to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, operating with John C. Stennis and Carrier Group Seven.
During this deployment, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Detachment 3 maintained 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard Caron.
One of the first exercises during this deployment was Exercise Shark Hunt 98 in April 1998 off the coast of Spain.

From January to 4 June 1999 she completed a regular overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.
This overhaul included modifications to accommodate female crew.
In June to December 2000 she deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, operating with the George Washington battle group.

On 15 October 2001 the ship was decommissioned.

On 4 December 2002 Caron was sunk prematurely off the coast of Puerto Rico as a result of explosives tests.
Caron was laid down by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi on 1 July 1974. She was commissioned on 1 October 1977.
In August 1979 Soviet planes staged a mock missile attack against the Caron in the Black Sea.
In late October, 1983 the Caron participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the vicinity of Grenada. Near H-hour on D-Day, Oct. 25, 1983, the Caron recovered a 20-man Navy SEAL/Air Force reconnaissance team from waters off the island's southwest coast. The recon team had sortied from the USS Clifton Sprague to assess the condition of a 9,000-foot runway then under construction by Cuban workers at Point Salines. Heavy swells swamped the engines of the team's small boats before they could reach shore. The Caron spotted them drifting offshore as dawn approached. Much later that day, the Caron recovered 10 more SEALs from the waters northwest of the island's capital after another commando team was driven off a radio transmitter site by a Grenadian counter-attack. The next afternoon, the Caron made yet a third recovery. The destroyer took aboard 11 Army Rangers on a raft who had been left behind on Grand Anse Beach following the successful helicopter rescue of 233 medical students and staff from St. George's University School of Medicine’s beachfront campus.
From November 1983 to March 1984 Caron was part of the Multi National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon.
On 10 March 1986, Caron departed Norfolk, Virginia with the America carrier battle group, for a Mediterranean deployment. During this deployment, the Action in the Gulf of Sidra took place during a freedom of navigation exercise in the Gulf of Sidra. This action saw U.S. Navy fighter aircraft shoot two Libyan Air Force fighters down. On 23 March 1986, operating with Ticonderoga and Scott, Caron moved south of the Libya–claimed "Line of Death". Libya reacted with two days of low intensity conflict in which Caron did not fire any weapons.
On 12 February 1988 Caron was lightly rammed by Soviet Mirka II class light frigate (FFL 824) in the Black Sea.
On 15 February 1990 Caron completed a regular overhaul.
Caron was deployed to the Middle East after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and from 14 January 1991 she participated in Operation Desert Storm.
On 14 October 1993 she began participation in United Nations-mandated, U.S.-executed sanctions enforcement operations against Haiti. She was one of six US Navy ships prepositioned off Haiti as a result of an order by President Bill Clinton. Clinton's order allowed the ships to be in position to enforce United Nations sanctions fully on the date at which they went into effect.
In April 1995 Caron took part in a NATO mine countermeasures exercise off Denmark.
From January to July 1996 she deployed to the Persian Gulf upholding United Nations sanctions against Iraq and aiding in Operation Southern Watch.
From February to 3 July 1998 she deployed to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, operating with John C. Stennis and Carrier Group Seven. During this deployment, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Detachment 3 maintained 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard Caron. One of the first exercises during this deployment was Exercise Shark Hunt 98 in April 1998 off the coast of Spain.
From January to 4 June 1999 she completed a regular overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding. This overhaul included modifications to accommodate female crew. In June to December 2000 she deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, operating with the George Washington battle group.
On 15 October 2001 the ship was decommissioned.
On 4 December 2002 Caron was sunk prematurely off the coast of Puerto Rico as a result of explosives tests.
USS Caron