USS Jerome County (LST-848)

The USS "Jerome County" (LST-848) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Jerome County, Idaho, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

History

LST-848 was laid down on 6 November 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company; launched on 21 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. F. D. Porter; and commissioned on 20 January 1945 with Lieutenant R. P. Bentley, USNR, in command. Following shakedown off Florida, LST-848 departed New Orleans 24 February for the Pacific. After touching Balboa, Panama in the Canal Zone and West Coast ports, she proceeded to Hawaii, arriving at Kalua Harbor 9 April. For the next 6 weeks, she engaged in amphibious exercises in the Hawaiian Islands before sailing to the Marianas. Arriving at Guam 11 June, LST-848 shuttled troops and equipment from the Marianas to Okinawa for the duration of World War II. When Japan accepted Allied peace terms, thereby ending the War, the landing ship was assigned to transport occupation forces in the Far East. Operating between the Philippines and Japan, LST-848 carried troops, vehicles, and cargo to support American forces in the Pacific. She departed Japan in early December and, after stays at Saipan and Pearl Harbor, arrived at San Francisco 11 February 1946. Following operations along the West Coast, she sailed to Astoria, Oregon early in April and decommissioned at Vancouver, Washington 10 August 1946. While berthed with the Columbia River group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, LST-848 was named USS "Jerome County" (LST-848) 1 July 1955.

"Jerome County" recommissioned 7 December 1959 with Lieutenant Kenneth H. Ruecker in command, then completed a shakedown along the Pacific coast. On 14 May 1960 she departed from San Pedro, California for mid-Pacific missile operations out of Midway Island. After 5 months in support of the U.S. missile program, she returned to San Diego late October. During 1961, "Jerome County" participated in amphibious training exercises along the California coast; then on 12 January 1962 she sailed for the mid-Pacific. Assigned to Operation Dominic, she performed weather studies, charting, and communications during the U.S. nuclear tests of that year. The veteran LST returned to San Diego 18 August to resume amphibious training exercises. From August, 1962 until August, 1965 "Jerome County" usually operated along the West Coast in addition to two mid-Pacific deployments. Following the increased American commitment to assist the South Vietnamese government in their struggle against Communist aggression, "Jerome County" sailed for Southeast Asia 10 August 1965. Arriving Chu Lai, South Vietnam 11 September, she supported U.S. operations in Asia for the next 3 months. The landing ship returned San Diego 22 December. "Jerome County" sailed again for the Far East 3 March 1966 and arrived at Da Nang, South Vietnam 8 April. She unloaded her cargo and continued shuttling supplies, ammunition, and equipment in and out of the war zone until departing from Subic Bay 1 September for home. She arrived at San Diego 13 October and operated along the West Coast for the remainder of the year and into 1967 preparing for future action.

In mid-1969 a planned fourth Southeast Asian deployment was cancelled, and "Jerome County" was instead prepared for transfer abroad. Decommissioned again on 1 April 1970 she was turned over, via lease, to the Republic of Vietnam Navy that same month. She became the Republic of Vietnam Navy ship RVN "Nha Trang" (HQ-505) in April 1970. Five years later, at the fall of South Vietnam, she escaped to the Philippines and subsequently became the Philippine Navy's PN "Agusan Del Sur". The ship was discarded by the Philippine Navy about 1992. Her final fate is unknown.

"LST-848" earned one award of the Presidential Unit Citation, one award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and five battle stars for the Vietnam War.

References

*
* cite web|title=LST-848 "Jerome County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160848.htm|accessdate=July 26|accessyear=2007

Further reading

*cite book|author=Friedman, Norman |year=2002|title=US Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History|publisher= Naval Institute Press|id=ISBN 1-55750-250-1

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs

External links

* [http://www.mrfa.org/lst_848.htm History of The USS Jerome County (LST-848)]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LST-848 LST-848 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]