USS Clarion River (LSM(R)-409)

The USS "Clarion River" (LSM(R)-409) was an "LSM(R)-401"-class medium-type landing ship (LSM) built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for the Clarion River in west central Pennsylvania, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

History

Originally laid down 26 January 1945 at U.S. Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina; launched 18 February 1945; commissioned as USS LSM(R)-409 16 May 1945 with Lieutenant (junior grade) Herbert H. Bolton, USNR, in command. Decommissioned 6 February 1947 at San Diego, California and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned 5 October 1950 for Korean War service, LSM(R)-409 was assigned to LSMR Squadron Five and participated in the following campaigns: the Communist China Spring Offensive (23 May to 6 June 1951); the U.N. Summer-Fall Offensive (15 to 30 July 1951 and 26 August to 21 September 1951); the Third Korean Winter (16 to 30 April 1953); and the Korean Summer-Fall (1 May to 20 July 1953). Named USS "Clarion River" (LSM(R)-409) 1 October 1955, the ship was again decommissioned on 26 October of that year at Astoria, Oregon and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group. "Clarion River" was recommissioned 18 September 1965 at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point.

Reclassified as "Inshore Fire Support Ship" USS "Clarion River" (LFR-409) 1 January 1969, she participated in the following Vietnam War campaigns: the Vietnamese Counteroffensive (26 May to 4 June 1966 and 13 to 30 June 1966); the Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II (1 to 2 July, 13 July to 4 August, 13 to 29 October, and 12 to 23 November 1966, and 30 January to 13 March 1967); the Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III (7 June to 6 July, 23 July to 17 August, and 26 October to 20 November 1967, and 26 December 1967 to 18 January 1968); the Tet Counteroffensive 3 to 25 February 1968); the Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V (8 July to 13 August and 24 August to 23 September 1968); the Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI (3 November to 7 December 1968); the Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 February to 8 June 1969); the Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 June to 31 October 1969); and the Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 (1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970). Decommissioned for the last time on 8 May 1970 at Yokosuka, Japan and struck from the Naval Vessel Register (date unknown). She was sold for scrapping in November, 1970 to Nissho-Iwai American Corporation of Sasebo, Japan.

Awards

"Clarion River" earned four battle stars for Korean War service and nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

Image gallery

References

* cite web|title=LSM(R) / LFR-409 "Clarion River"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/06/06409.htm|accessdate=July 6|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSMs

External links

* [http://our409.home.att.net/ The USS "Clarion River" LSMR - 409]