USS Monmouth County (LST-1032)

The USS "Monmouth County" (LST-1032) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Monmouth County, New Jersey, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as LST-1032 on 9 June 1944 by the Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts; launched 9 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Jennie M. Kneeland, and commissioned 1 August 1944 with Lieutenant J. M. Medina in command. Following shakedown, LST-1032 departed New York 8 September 1944 for the west coast, arriving at San Diego 4 October. Continuing on to Hawaii, she embarked troops there and sailed 23 January 1945 to take part in the assault on Iwo Jima. While debarking marines there, on 20 February, an enemy shell struck her bow, killing one marine and wounding nine. Despite this, rough seas, and stiff Japanese opposition, she completed debarking her troops and supplies on the 22nd, and proceeded to Saipan. She next sailed from Saipan to take part in the Okinawa invasion, arriving off that island 1 April. Discharging her cargo and men, she departed for Saipan, returning to Okinawa 30 May with more supplies. LST-1032 then steamed to the Philippines, arriving San Pedro Bay 15 June. Until Japan's surrender, she ferried troops and munitions among the Philippines, with two additional runs to Okinawa. Then she carried occupation troops to the Japanese home islands until 19 November, when she sailed for the United States, arriving San Francisco 30 December. Sailing to the east coast, LST-1032 anchored off Little Creek, Virginia 15 April 1946 and joined the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, with which she operated for the next 9 years. She joined expeditions to Greenland in 1951 and 1952, and took part in training exercises in the Caribbean. LST-1032 was named USS "Monmouth County" (LST-1032) 1 July 1955 and decommissioned 14 October 1955, after which time she was berthed in the Florida Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She transferred to the Philadelphia Group in August, 1961 and recommissioned 28 May 1963 as a unit of Reserve LST Squadron 2, based at Little Creek. She was placed into full commission 21 December 1965, participating in the Dominican Republic crisis, again demonstrating the Navy's vital role in keeping the peace in a troubled world. In 1966 "Monmouth County" sailed to assist the people of South Vietnam in their struggle against Asian communism. Assigned to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, she operated between the Demilitarized Zone and the Mekong Delta, carrying foodstuffs, ammunition, and construction equipment. Following a visit to the Republic of China in February, 1967 she returned to Vietnamese waters for three additional tours between 1968 and March, 1970.Decommissioned at Vallejo, California and struck from the Naval Vessel Register 12 August 1970, the ex-LST was sold for scrapping to Zidell Exploration Inc. of Portland, Oregon on 11 September 1971.

LST-1032 received four battle stars for World War II service.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-1032 "Monmouth County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/161032.htm|accessdate=August 17|accessyear=2007

External links

* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LST-1032 LST-1032 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs