USS Marinette County (LST-953)

The USS "Marinette County" (LST-953) was a sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Marinette County, Wisconsin, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as LST-953 on 15 September 1944 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Hingham, Massachusetts; launched 15 October; and commissioned 7 November with Lieutenant T. W. Sexton in command. LST-953 commenced an east coast shakedown 12 November 1944 and hastened to join LST Flotilla 21 already at Pearl Harbor. Three months of intensive training exercises preceded her April, 1945 voyage to Guam. After a series of supply missions in the southern Marianas, she reached Okinawa in the War zone 26 June. For 5 weeks Marine Corps troops and vehicles were shuttled around the island to facilitate mop-up operations. The day Japan announced acceptance of surrender terms, LST-953 returned to the Marianas. She carried elements of the 2nd Marine Division to Nagasaki 24 September for occupation duty and men of the Army's 24th Infantry Division to Matsuyama 27 October. A "Magic Carpet" voyage back to San Diego concluded her duty in the Pacific.

In July, 1946 she transited the Panama Canal and steamed to Beaumont, Texas. Decommissioned 12 November, the ship served the Naval Reserve Program until towed to Green Cove Springs, Florida 17 June 1950 for berthing in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was renamed USS "Marinette County" (LST-953) 1 July 1955. On 1 November 1958, her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-953 received one battle star for World War II service.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-953 "Marinette County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160953.htm|accessdate=August 13|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs