Cryptic crossword clue
US ex-serviceman welcomed by order of escort vessels 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CORVETTES

C
O
R
V
E
T
T
E
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "vessels" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case vessels = corvettes.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does CORVETTES mean?

CORVETTES noun
  1. A flush-decked warship of the 17th-18th centuries having a single tier of guns; it ranked next below a frigate; – called in the United States navy a sloop of war.
  2. In a modern navy, a lightly armed and armoured blue water warship, smaller than a frigate, capable of transoceanic duty.

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