USS Millard County (LST-987)

The USS "Millard County" (LST-987) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Millard County, Utah, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as "LST-987" on 2 February 1944 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 5 March 1944; and commissioned on 19 April 1944 with Lieutenant William H. Pennington in command. After shakedown along the east coast, "LST-987" began duty under Commander, Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet. Assigned to LST Group 25, she operated out of Little Creek, Virginia during the next year as an underway training ship in Chesapeake Bay. She trained LST officers and crews in procedures of beaching, gunnery, ship handling, and tactics. In addition, she trained with Army tanks and equipment and carried out pontoon beaching exercises. During this period she completed three cruises for officers and 23 cruises for crews.

On 19 April 1945 "LST-987" entered Portsmouth Navy Yard for a 2-week overhaul; thence, after loading rolling stock and "LCT-523", she sailed 16 May for the Pacific. Arriving Pearl Harbor 13 June, she unloaded equipment and embarked soldiers of the 545th Field Artillery. The LST then sailed for the western Pacific 21 June. Steaming via the Marshalls and Marianas, she reached Leyte Gulf, Philippines 15 July, debarked troops, and on the 16th reported for duty with SerRon 10. Between 26 and 29 July, LST-987 steamed into Subic Bay, Luzon. There she embarked units of the 479th Air Service Squadron with rolling stock and cargo, and on 1 August she sailed for Okinawa. She reached Hagushi 6 August and, after discharging men and equipment at Ie Shima from 12 August to 16 August, she sailed for the Philippines the 21st. Steaming via Subic Bay, she reached Leyte Gulf 30 August. Assigned to occupation operations, "LST-987" steamed to Panay, Philippines 6 September where she embarked troops of the 40th Infantry. Between 17 September and 27 September she steamed to Inchon where she off-loaded equipment, thence she sailed to Pusan 2 October to 4 October and debarked troops. She returned to Inchon 8 October, embarked 1,000 Japanese POWs, and sailed for Japan 11 October. Arriving the October 14, she debarked the Japanese and 3 days later got underway for the Philippines. She lost her port propeller 18 October, but with assistance from "LST-841" reached Subic 23 October. "LST-987" continued to support the lifting of occupation forces in the Far East during the remainder of the year, and runs carried her from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea. Early in 1946 she returned to the United States from the western Pacific, and in May she was assigned duty as a Naval Reserve training ship. She decommissioned 3 September 1946 but continued service training Naval Reserves; and for over 3 years operated under command of the Potomac Naval River Command.

"LST-987" entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida in May 1950. Named USS "Millard County" (LST-987) 1 July 1955, she remained in her Florida berthing area until mid-1960. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 June 1960.

In August, 1961 she was sold to the German Navy for conversion into a battle damage repair ship (ARB). However, this conversion was never undertaken and she never saw commissioned service in the "Deutsche Marine". Struck from the German Naval list in early 1968, she was sold for scrap in November of that year. Sold again in 1973 to Zanzuig & Transportbedrijf H. G. & G. D. Blomberg B. V. of Panama, she was renamed "Esperance III" and converted to a "Hopper Dredge." Resold in 1978 to Cdeco Maritime Construction Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware and again in 1980 to the American International Dredge Corporation, the ship was resold a third time in 1986 to the B & B Dredging Corporation of Chicago, Illinois and renamed "Columbus". Renamed "Columbia" in 2002, as of August 2003 the vessel was still in service.

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* List of United States Navy LSTs