USS Garrett County (LST-786)

The USS "Garrett County" (LST-786) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Garrett County, Maryland, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-786 was laid down on 21 May 1944 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by the Dravo Corporation; launched on 22 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. E. B. Keckler; and commissioned on 28 August 1944 with Lieutenant Eli T. Ringler, USCG, in command. During World War II, LST-786 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima from 12 to 28 February 1945 and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June, 1945. Following the War, she performed occupation duty in the Far East and saw service in China until mid-December, 1945. LST-786 was decommissioned on 9 July 1946 at Astoria, Oregon and assigned to the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. On 1 July 1955 the ship was redesignated USS "Garrett County" (LST-786).

Recommissioned on 15 October 1966 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard with Lieutenant James C. Kunz USN in command and redesignated a Patrol Craft Tender, USS "Garrett County" (AGP-786). The ship saw extensive service in the Vietnam War, and participated in the following campaigns: Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III (29 November 1967 to 29 January 1968); Tet Counteroffensive (30 January to 1 April 1968); Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV (2 April to 30 June 1968); Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V (1 July to 1 November 1968); Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI (2 November to 2 December 1968 and 23 January 1969); Tet/69 Counteroffensive (28 February to 8 June 1969); Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 June to 11 August 1969, 7 September 1969, and 31 December 1969 to 21 February 1970); and Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII (1 September 1970, 5 to 30 November 1970, and 31 December 1970 to 2 February 1971). Decommissioned and transferred to South Vietnam for service in the Republic of Vietnam Navy on 23 April 1971, she was renamed RVNS "Can Tho" (HQ-801). The ship and her crew escaped to the Philippines with the fall of South Vietnamese government, after which custody was transferred to the Republic of the Philippines. She was renamed BRP "Kalinga Apayao" (LT-516) for service in the Philippine Navy, where it still serves today [http://www.philfleet.mil.ph/ships.htm] . LST-786 earned one battle star for World War II service and the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and eight battle stars for the Vietnam War.

References

*
* cite web|title=LST / AGP-786 "Garrett County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160786.htm|accessdate=June 15|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs