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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret.

LCU-1485
Landing Craft Utility

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Juliet - Lima
 NCJL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - Presidential Unit Citation
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (12)
Third Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Vietnam Campaign Medal
Personnel Awards

Silver Star - Craft Master QM1 Lucian Highlander, Jr. USN
LCU-1466 Class Landing Craft Tank:
  • Laid down, date unknown, at Island Dock Yard., Kingston, N.Y.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Delivered circa 1953-55
  • During the Vietnam War LCU-1485 was attached to the Lighterage Branch, Operations division, Naval Support Activity, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam and participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967     		Tet/69 Counteroffensive
    23 February to 8 June 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 31 October 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 1 April 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 April to 30 June 1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 May to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 1 November 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 July 1970 to 30 June 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969     		Consolidation I
    1 July to 30 September 1971

  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, scrapped, date unknown
  • LCU-1485 earned at twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 180 t.(lt), 360 t.(fl)
    Length 119' (o.a.)
    Beam 34'
    Draft 6'
    Design Speed 10 kts.
    Range 700 nautical miles at 7kts
    Complement 14
    Cargo Capacity 150 short tons
    Armament two .50 cal. machine guns
    Armor 2 1/2" wheelhouse, 2" gun shield
    Propulsion 3 Grey Marine Diesels, 3 shafts, Shaft horsepower 675 bhp per shaft
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LCU-1485 629k LCU-1485 preparing to moor at Naval Station Coronado, CA., circa June-July 1955. Note BM3 Louis Murray is standing with the mooring line above the "5" on the crafts bow.
    US Navy photo from "Our Navy" magazine, November 15, 1955 issue.    		 Louis Murray BM3 LCU-1485
    LCU-1485 84k LCU-1485 beached at Cua Viet in northern I-Corps while off-loading ammunition in 1969. Tom Lanagan YFU-79
    There is no DANFS history available for LCU-1485 at Navsource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 18 September 2009 2009

    The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to
    QUARTERMASTER FIRST CLASS LUCIAN HIGHLANDER, JR. UNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the following:
    CITATION
    for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 30 April 1968 while attached to the Lighterage Branch, Operations division, United States Naval Support Activity, DaNang, Republic of Vietnam. As Craftmaster of LCU 1485, Petty Officer Highlander was tasked to deliver essential combat cargo to the Free World Military Forces at the river port of Dong Ha. At 0815, while following LCU 1477 in transit on the Cua Viet River, his craft came under fire from firmly entrenched enemy forces on the banks of the river. His craft received a direct hit with a rocket round, but he immediately opened fire on the enemy position. Just as the LCU 1477 commenced to open fire, it was hit, killing three wounding six of its crew. The LCU 1477 went out of control, and to avoid collision with the barge it was towing, the barge was cut loose. The drifting barge and shallowness of the river created a very hazardous situation, but Petty Officer Highlander skillfully maneuvered his craft past the barge into a position to divert enemy fire from the LCU 1477. There he remained, directing suppressive fire until Petty Officer Highlander's craft received three additional rocket hits, but this did not deter him in his highly effective spotting and directing of fire which caused several secondary explosions and five confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Regulars. His devotion to duty, courage under fire, and outstanding professionalism was in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.