USS Pulaski County (LST-1088)

USS "Pulaski County" (LST-1088) was a "LST-1081"-class tank landing ship of the United States Navy, named for seven counties in the United States (see Pulaski for list of counties). "Pulaski County" earned two battle stars for Vietnam War service. Renamed USNS "Pulaski County" (T-LST-1088) in 1967.

"Pulaski County" was laid down by the American Bridge Co., Ambridge, Pennsylvania 16 December 1944; launched 11 February 1945; sponsored by Mrs. A. J. Paddock; and commissioned at Algiers, Louisiana as "LST-1088" 27 March 1945, with Lt. Sheldon Potter III in command.

After shakedown off Florida, "LST-1088" departed the Gulf Coast 6 May for the Pacific. She put in to Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Guam, Saipan, Manila, and Lingayen Gulf before landing occupation troops at Wakayama, Honshū, Japan 28 October. She subsequently carried troops and cargo to Okinawa, Sasebo, Saipan, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco, arriving there 19 January 1946. In March she sailed for Portland, Oregon where she underwent pre-inactivation overhaul, was decommissioned 29 August 1946, and berthed with the Columbia River Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.

On 1 July 1955, "LST-1088" was named "Pulaski County" (LST-1088). In 1961 "Pulaski County" was moved to the Reserve Group at Bremerton, Washington. On 21 May 1963, she recommissioned and was assigned to Reserve LST Squadron 2 homeported in Little Creek, Virginia. The ship underwent refresher training at San Diego from 17 June to 2 July, then sailed 20 July via the Panama Canal for Little Creek, arriving 22 August.

In January and February 1964, "Pulaski County" transported obsolete ammunition from the Naval Ammunition Depot Earle Monmouth County, New Jersey for disposal at sea. She then operated along the east coast from Florida to New York, and provided training services for the Army at Little Creek. In late February 1965 "Pulaski County" supported a Project Gemini space flight. From 22 May through 25 August she supported Army troops during the Dominican Republic Operations.

In early 1966 "Pulaski County" deployed from Little Creek to the Pacific via the Panama Canal. She spent most of the year in the western Pacific, particularly off Vietnam, but also making port calls at Okinawa and Japan. Her main duty was transporting cargo to Vietnam. She continued to operate in Vietnam and the Far East in early 1967. In July 1967 she was transferred to Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), and redesignated USNS 'Pulaski County'.

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p13/pulaski_county.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Pulaski"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/161088.htm NavSource Naval History]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LST-1088 LST-1088 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]