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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LSM-68


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Foxtrot - Foxtrot
 NVFF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
LSM-1 Class Landing Ship Medium:
  • Laid down, 21 July 1944, at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 14 August 1944
  • Commissioned USS LSM-68, 10 September 1944, LT. William R. Walker USNR in command
  • During World War II USS LSM-68 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 9 January 1945     		Borneo operation
    Brunei Bay operation, 10 to 14 June 1945
    Manila Bay-Bicol operation
    Zambales-Subic Bay operation, 29 to 31 January 1945     		Consolidation and capture of the southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings, 12 July 1945

  • Decommissioned, 10 May 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
  • USS LSM-68 earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold 13 January 1948, to Fairbanks Morse & Co., Chicago, IL., fate unknown.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
    Length 203' 6" (ovl)
    Beam 34' 6"
    Draft
    light, 3' 6" forward, 7' 8" aft
    fully loaded, 6' 4" forward, 8' 3" aft
    Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
    Complement
    5 officers
    54 enlisted
    Armament
    one twin bow mounted 40mm gun
    four single 20mm gun mounts
    Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT's, or 9 DUKW's
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,225 Bbls
    Troop Accommodations
    2 officers
    46 enlisted
    Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
    Endurance 4,900 miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
    Propulsion
    two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers, 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LSM-68 257k Crew of USS LSM-68 at Amphibious Base Little Creek VA. after finishing their training there, circa August 1944. Names BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 222k USS LSM-68 beached with an unidentified LSM while crew members unload Quonset Huts at Port Arkansas, TX. during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa September to December 1944. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 476k USS LSM-68 beached with an unidentified LSM while crew members unload Quenset Huts at Port Arkansas, TX., during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa September to DEcember 1944., move materials off-loaded from the ship on to the beach, circa September to December 1944. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 366k USS LSM-68's Commanding Officer, LCDR. William R. Walker, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 36k USS LSM-68 beached, date and location unknown. Tim Perrine
    LSM-68 249k USS LSM-68 heading for the invasion beach at Lingayen Gulf, 9 January 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 408k USS LSM-68 loading bombs into the tank deck, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 207k USS LSM-68 with Japanese POWs in the tank deck, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 270k USS LSM-68 beached at Lingayen Gulf while disembarking troops, 9 January 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 249k USS LSM-68 beached at Lingayen Gulf while unloading ammunition, date unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 178k Japanese prisoners waiting to board USS LSM-68 for transport to Leyte, location unknown, 18 October 1945 BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 94k
    LSM-68 763k USS LSM-68, Japanese soldier operating a motor boat, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 268k USS LSM-68 with Japanese prisoners taken aboard from various prison camps in the Philippine Islands heading for Leyte in October 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 96k Japanese prisoners disembarking from USS LSM-68 and USS LSM-54 at Leyte, 20 October 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 197k
    LSM-68 100k USS LSM-68 beached at Dodola Island, Netherlands East Indies for R & R prior to embarking Australian troops for the invasion of northern Borneo, Brunei Bay, circa June 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 87k USS LSM-68 and an unidentified LSM beached at Dodola Island, Netherlands East Indies for R & R prior to embarking Australian troops for the invasion of northern Borneo, Brunei Bay, circa June 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 187k USS LSM-68 just off the beach at Brunei Bay, Borneo with bow doors open. Note the flotsam and Jetsam in the surf. There may well be human bodies washing around in this mess, circa 10 to 14 June 1945. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 351k USS LSM-68 beached at Brunei Bay, Borneo, circa 10 t o14 June 1945.. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 400k USS LSM-68 beached alongside an unidentified LCI, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 56k USS LSM-68 crew photo, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 174k USS LSM-68 beached, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 119k USS LSM-68 with two navy launches loaded in the well deck, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-497 50k USS LSM-68 and sixteen additional LSMs moored at Apra Guam, waiting for orders to return to the United State, January 1946. Other LSMs that can be identified are USS LSM-286, USS LSM-64, USS LSM-203, USS LSM-219, USS LSM-497. USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-68 412k Crossing the Equator certificate issued to MoMM1/c E.J. Fessenden, 24 March 1946, USS LSM-68 BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 105k E.J. Fessenden manning of USS LSM-68's 20mm guns, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 129k USS LSM-68 crew member E.J. Fessenden showing a Japanese flag, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    LSM-68 148k USS LSM-68 beached, date and location unknown. BUCS (SCW) Roy Fessenden, US Navy Seabees, Ret.in memory of my Father, E.J. "Buck" Fessenden, MoMM1/c, USS LSM-68
    The history extract for USS LSM-68 is from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces, Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1997. (ISBN 1-56311-389-9).
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Walker, William R., USNR10 September 1944 - 27 October 1945
    02LTjg. Baker, W.E., USNR27 October 1945 - 10 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Ports of Call of USS LSM-68 during World War II
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    USS LSM-LSMR Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 19 May 2018