USS Esmeraldo County (LST-761)

The USS "Esmeraldo County" (LST-761) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after an erroneous spelling of Esmeralda County, Nevada, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-761 was laid down on 18 June 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company; launched on 7 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. H. A. Brainerd; and commissioned on 2 September 1944 with Lieutenant H. A. Swagart, Jr., USCGR, in command. During World War II, LST-761 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February and March, 1945. The Coast Guard crew was removed in March, 1946 and the ship was assigned to the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet; she was decommissioned on 16 July 1946. On 1 July 1955 the ship was named USS "Esmeraldo County" (LST-761). "Esmeraldo County" was sunk as a target in 1959. LST-761 earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-761 "Esmeraldo County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160761.htm|accessdate=June 13|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs