The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label USS DeKalb County LST-715. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS DeKalb County LST-715. Show all posts

Saturday, December 5, 2015

USS DeKalb County LST-715-- Part 2: Korean War

It was reacquired by the US Navy for the Korean War 25 July 1950 and participated in the North Korean Aggression, Communist China Aggression, Inchon landing, U.S. Counter Offensive, second Korean Winter and Korean Defense.

It earned a total of eight battle stars during its career: two in World War II and six during the Korean War.

It was transferred to the Military Transportation Service in 1965 and was later part of the National defense reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California.

The DeKalb County was sold in 1984 for scrapping.

A Ship With a Long career.  --GreGen

USS DeKalb County, LST-715-- Part 1

The ship was named after the DeKalb County located in six different U.S. states, including Illinois.  Most LSTs, Landing Ship tanks, were not given names.

It was laid down 7 June 1944, at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company and launched 20 July 1944 (in 43 days).  Commissioning took place 15 August 1944.

Assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater, the ship was at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  It performed Occupation duty until September 1945 and was decommissioned 17 April 1946 in the Philippines and transferred to the U.S. Army on 28 June 1946 where it was commissioned USAT LST-715.

--GreGen