USS Dubuque (LPD-8)

USS|Dubuque|LPD-8, an "Austin"-class amphibious transport dock, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Dubuque, Iowa. Her keel was laid down on 25 January 1965 by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was launched on 6 August 1966 and commissioned on 1 September 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. In November 1967, the ship arrived at her first homeport of San Diego, California after transiting the Panama Canal.

From 1968 until 1975, "Dubuque" made five Western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war to North Vietnam. From 1969 until 1971 the ship conducted ten "Keystone Cardinal" troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization" of the war. From February to June of 1973 the ship operated helicopters that conducted naval mine clearance operations in Haiphong Harbor as part of Operation End Sweep. In April 1975 the ship participated in the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam.

On 15 August 1985 "Dubuque" departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, where she arrived 4 September 1985. There, she joined the Seventh Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program, her primary mission to support the Marine Corps in the Western Pacific.

In May 1988 "Dubuque" deployed to the Persian Gulf and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect US-flagged tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. In 1989 the ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate American personnel from the Philippines during a failed coup attempt.

Immediately following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, "Dubuque" received deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national build up.

In November 1998 "Dubuque" again deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the USS|Belleau Wood|LHA-3|2 Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on support of Operation Desert Fox.

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On 30 July 1999, "Dubuque" was relieved by USS|Juneau|LPD-10 as part of the forward-deployed naval forces. Since then, she has been once again homeported in San Diego, California.

From June to September 1999, "Dubuque" participated in the first SHIP-SWAP with her sister-ship "Juneau", where each ship's crew remained in their original home ports, allowing "Dubuque" to return to the homeport of San Diego.

From September 2006 to May 2007 "Dubuque" was deployed with the USS|Boxer|LHD-4 and the USS|Comstock|LSD-19, transporting the 15th MEU to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Dubuque" deployed again in 2008 with the USS|Peleliu|LHA-5|2 Expeditionary Strike Group and participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37542] . The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. Maritime Strategy in time of crisis or emergency.

Awards

"Dubuque" has received three Battle Efficiency Awards and participated in countless amphibious exercises and operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Controversy

On 10 June 1988 "Dubuque" discovered a boat containing 110 refugees escaping from Vietnam. The Vietnamese refugees had been stranded out at sea for 19 days due to an engine failure. The refugees requested aid from the "Dubuque" but were refused. Only 52 of the 110 refugees survived to be saved by Filipino fishermen. The Commanding Officer, Alexander Balian, was relieved of his duties from Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Fact|date=January 2008

Trivia

*Starting 21 September 2001 (ten days after 9/11) the USS Dubuque (LPD-8) spent nearly 90 days at sea before receiving authorization to hold Beer day.Fact|date=January 2008
*Life aboard the "Dubuque" is discussed in Nathaniel Fick's war memoir, .

External links

* [http://www.dubuque.navy.mil/ USS "Dubuque" official website]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LPD8.htm nvr.navy.mil: USS "Dubuque"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/0908.htm navsource.org: USS "Dubuque"]
* [http://navysite.de/ships/lpd8.htm navysite.de: USS "Dubuque"]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LPD-8 LPD-8 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]
* [http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_9092428?nclick_check=1/Film on Bolinao 52]