USS Iredell County (LST-839)

The USS "Iredell County" (LST-839) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Iredell County, North Carolina, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. Originally laid down as LST-839 by the American Bridge Company of Ambridge, Pennsylvania on 25 September 1944; launched 12 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Arthur Lehner; and commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana 6 December 1944 with Lieutenant Waldo F. McNeir in command. After shakedown off the coast of Florida, LST-839 loaded Army troops and cargo and departed New Orleans for the Pacific 9 January 1945. Steaming via the Panama Canal, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok, she reached Saipan 10 March. There she prepared to support the invasion of Okinawa; and, after embarking Seabees and loading construction equipment, she sailed 12 April for that strategic island, which lay at the gateway to the heart of the Japanese Empire. The campaign was well underway when L8T-839 reached Kinmu Wan, Okinawa 17 April. Despite heavy enemy air raids, she debarked troops and discharged cargo, then returned to Saipan 21 April to transport additional troops. During the 4 remaining months of the War, she shuttled troops and equipment among the Marianas, Philippine, and Okinawa staging areas for the possible invasion of Japan. The enemy's acceptance of Allied peace terms precluded an invasion, and the landing ship then operated between the Philippines and Japan, transporting occupation forces until mid-November. Arriving Guam 12 November, LST-839 embarked 500 veterans of the Pacific fighting and sailed 17 November for the United States. Steaming via Pearl Harbor, she reached San Francisco 28 December. She sailed for Astoria, Oregon 25 January 1946; decommissioned at Vancouver, Washington 24 July; and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. While berthed in the Columbia River, she was named USS "Iredell County" (LST-892) 1 July 1955. "Iredell County" recommissioned at San Diego, California 18 June 1966. Completing training, "Iredell" County sailed to join the 7th Fleet 3 September 1966. En route to Japan with her first cargo since 1945, she called at Pearl Harbor and her new homeport of Guam. Exchanging cargo at Iwakuni, Japan on 12 October, "Iredell County" departed for Danang, Vietnam, arriving 21 October. She shuttled petroleum, building materials, rations, troops, and equipment between Danang and Chu Lai, 65 miles to the south. "Iredell County" transported more than 7,360 tons of cargo and made 12 landings. She sailed to Guam 15 December 1966. In response to the American effort to protect and defend the independence and integrity of South Vietnam from external Communist aggression, she continued to serve the Pacific Fleet and participate in the vital peacekeeping operations currently underway in the turbulent and troubled Southeast Asia until July, 1970 when she was decommissioned and transferred (loaned) under terms of the Security Assistance Program to Indonesia. Renamed "Teluk Bone", the ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sold outright to Indonesia in February 1979. Her final fate is unknown.

LST-839 received one battle star for World War II service, and as "Iredell County" the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and 9 campaign stars for the Vietnam War.

References

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* cite web|title=LST-839 "Iredell County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160839.htm|accessdate=July 24|accessyear=2007

External links

* [http://www.hullnumber.com/commands1.php?ct=OG&st=LST&hn=839&n1=USS&n2=IREDELL&n3=COUNTY&n4=&n5= LST-839 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs