USS GUADALCANAL was the third IWO JIMA - class amphibious assault ship (helicopter) and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on August 31, 1994, the GUADALCANAL was subsequently laid up at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, VA. Transfered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal on March 16, 2000, the GUADALCANAL was later scheduled to be towed to New York City to serve as helicopter landing platform in the INTREPID Sea, Air and Space Museum area in September 2001. However, those plans were cancelled and the GUADALCANAL was reaquired by the Navy on February 5, 2004 for use as a target. The ship was finally sunk as a target in the Virginia Capes area on May 19, 2005.