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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, at right by Don McGrogan BMCS USN Ret. - Popular Patch

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Vernon County (LST-1161)
ex
USS LST-1161 (1953 - 1955)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Tango - Bravo NBTB

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (3) [21 November 1966, 9 to 12 June 1968, 25 June 1969]
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation - Navy Unit Commendation (3)- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3)
Third Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3-1963, 1964, 1965) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam, Quemoy-Matsu Laos)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (14) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (11) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

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USS Vernon County (LST-1161) was transferred to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Amazonas T-21

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During the Vietnam War USS Vernon County (LST-1161) served continuously in country and in contiguous waters, with the exception of overhaul periods, from mid 1965 to late 1972 participating in the following campaigns. (Dates listed do not include underway transit times within the contiguous waters along the Vietnam coast as defined by the US Navy and so specified by the Vietnam Service Medal.)

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 29 to 31 July 1958 9 August 1958 5 to 12 September 1958 9 to 12 October 1958	Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI 19 to 31 January 1969
Vietnam Defense 16 to 27 August 1965 30 October to 14 November 1965 15 to 17 December	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 12 to 15 July 1969 2 to 13 August 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 18 January to 5 February 1966 19 to 25 February 1966 2 to 17 April 1966 25 to 30 April 1966 6 to 24 May 1966	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 22 November 1969 to 27January 1970 18 to 22 February 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase II 29 July to 2 August 1966 30 September to 23 November 1966	Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII 21 to 25 February 1971 7 to 9 April 1971 27 to 28 May 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase III 14 June to 27 August 1967 19 December 1967 to 29 January 1968	Consolidation I 4 September to 3 November 1971
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 4 February 1968	Consolidation II 23 January to 7 March 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase IV 19 May to 23 June 1968	Vietnam Ceasefire 28 April to 25 May 1972 5 to 30 October 1972 10 to 11 November 1972 18 to 26 November 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V 13 August to 21 October 1968

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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Specifications
Displacement 2,590 t.(lt) , 5,800 t.(fl)
Length 384'
Beam 55'
Draft 17'
Speed 14 kts.
Complement

ships company and staff officers 16

ships company enlisted 189

Troop Accommodations

15 officers

380 enlisted

Boats

three LCVP

one LCPL

Armament

three twin 3"/50 gun mounts

five single 20mm gun mounts

Propulsion

four GM 16-278A Diesel engines, 6000shp

two controllable pitch propellers

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
USS Vernon County (LST-1161)
	223k	LST-1161 immediately after launching, 25 November 1952, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.		Dale Hargrave
	16k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) painted white to reflect the sun, probably at Diego Garcia, circa March to June 1971.		LST Home Port web site
	17k
	209k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) underway loaded with vehicles bound for Taiwan, date unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, September 1964		Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	74k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) off loading Marines and equipment on a pontoon causeway at Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 24 June 1965. US National Archives photo USN 1111755		Dick Lindenauer, Robert Hurst and Mike Smolinski.
1016116108 1111755	354k
1016116110	264k	As work begins on the Chu Lai airstrip, trucks from the Seventh Fleet USS Vernon County (LST-1161) steam ashore over a floating causeway, August 1965. US National Archives photo USN 1112161		Mike Smolinski.
	289k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) (foreground) and USS Washoe County (LST- 1165) (background) beached at what appears to be Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan in October 1969.		Bob Morrison EN2 USS Washoe County
	174k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) underway, date and location unknown.		Ed Zajkowski
	68k	USS Vernon County (LST-1161) at anchor in Vietnamese waters, date and location unknown.		Dan Ninedorf
ARBV Amazonas (T-21)
	43k	Ex-USS Vernon County (LST-1161) in Venezuelan service as ARBV Amazonas (T-21) moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, September 1973.		Photo by Darrell Baty

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Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Southerlin, Donald Eston, USN	18 May 1953 - ?
02	LCDR. Quartulli, Onofrio T., USN	? - 16 November 1956
03	LCDR. Hemmingsen, Charles John, USN	16 November 1956 - 3 March 1958
04	LCDR. Tarbell, Curtis Loyal, USN	3 March 1958 - 10 April 1960
05	LCDR. Longton, William Frankland, USN (USNA 1946)	10 April 1960 - 27 July 1962
06	LCDR McCann, Carl Jay, USN	27 July 1962 - 25 March 1964
07	LCDR. Nesbitt, Harry James, USN (USNA 1953)	25 March 1964 - 10 June 1966
08	LCDR. Mott, Louis Dale, USN	10 June 1966 - April 1968
09	LCDR. Manning, Sidney Elwood (Sai), USN	April 1968 - 14 July 1968
10	LCDR Poyet, Elmer Francis (Frank)	14 July 1968 - 10 August 1970
11	LCDR Thames Jr., Lewis Herman, USN (USNA 1960)	10 August 1970 - 14 June 1973

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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For more photos and information about USS Vernon County see; Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) The USS LST Ship Memorial Mobile Riverine Force Association Mobile Riverine Force Association - History of The USS Vernon County (LST-1161) Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book LST Homeport State LST Chapters United States LST Association

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 15 April 2022