"In Honor and Rememberance of All Who Served in a Great Lady of the Seas and The Jungles of Southeast Asia"

Welcome to this Home for USS Vernon County Site and Enjoy Your Visit Here. Please Take the Time to Leave us a Message in the Guestbook! Thank You and Please Come Back Again!!

VERNON COUNTY WAS BORN OUT OF THE NECESSITY OF WARS, GONE DUE TO THE PROCESS OF MODERNIZATION, BUT ALTHOUGH SHE IS GONE SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE MEN SHE SERVED SO WELL

SHE WOULD DELIVER ON A BEACH OR UP A RIVER!!

DEAR FRIENDS AND SHIPMATES, ON THIS SITE YOU WILL BE OBSERVING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF OUR AMPHIBIOUS NAVY, AND ALL WHO SERVED IN THE PAST WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE FUTURE WITH DEEP CONCERN AND APPRECIATION

THE OFFICIAL SHIP'S PATCH OF VERNON COUNTY

This Patch is a Ceramic Patch Mounted on Cherry Wood and was Awarded to this Site Owner on His Appointment to Chief Petty Officer Storekeeper in 1968 by the Commanding Officer of Vernon County. A Beautifully written History of This Patch has been Provided by a Fellow Shipmate (Manny Pena) who Served a Great Deal of Time Aboard this Lady In the Sixties (Two Tours). Enjoy His Story of this Ship's Patch Taken from our Guestbook Saturday 06/23/2001 1:35:04pm :Manny Pena: MJPSPARKS@aol.com. When I saw the ship's patch, I almost became tearied eyed. I remember when the patch was designed, and issued to us at quarters. We had it on our bowling shirts during squadron tournaments. Also on our blue jackets. It was really cool to be on base. Almost like a "gang" ha ha! The trident was for the crossing of the equator in July 1960, during our trip over to Japan from CONUS in 1960. The SWORD is for defense, The eight stars are for the eight ships of LSTDIV 92/LANSHIPRON 9. The seahorse is for the 'WORK HORSE" job the LST's were sent to do in WESPAC. The EAGLE is for USA. The MOUNTAIN is for MT FUJI--Signifying our New Home Port of Yokosuka, Japan. The Crossed Arrows for the troops we were to carry and support. The RED CROSS was for Humanitarian Significance we were to show in the Western Pacific. Man, it sure does bring back memories. Manny

THIS IS USS VERNON COUNTY LST 1161 BEACHED IN DIEGO GARCIA

Vernon County was the only LST Painted White for service in Diego Garcia! She was painted white in the shipyard at Yokosuka, Japan for this duty. Our shipmate, Ron Whaley was with ACB-2, and rode the ship from Yokosuka to Vietnam and on to Diego Garcia. The ship was one of the first to Transport Equipment and Supplies to Diego for the Building of a Base and Port in the Area in 1971 and 1972. This Photo was provided by Ted Morris at: http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/seabees.html

THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE ARMY AND MARINE CORPS TROOPS WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT SHE CARRIED TO THEIR DESTINATIONS AND THE DEDICATED OFFICERS AND CREWMEN WHO SERVED SO PROUDLY ABOARD THE USS VERNON COUNTY (LST 1161)

The "Spirits of Ships" Award is given to Sites Honoring the Memory of Decommissioned US Navy War Ships. These Sites keep the Spirits of our bygone ladies alive so the world can know how much they meant to us and that they live on in our Memories. Receiving this Award Indicates the Most Important Part of Our Navy, Naval History and the Preservation of Freedom!!

REMEMBERING ALL THE US ARMY TROOPS WHOM WE SERVED WITH AND ENTERTAINED AS GUESTS ABOARD OUR SHIP WHILE SERVING WITH THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCES IN VIETNAM

VERNON COUNTY SERVED HER COUNTRY, OFFICERS AND CREWMAN EXTREMELY WELL DURING A PERILOUS TIME IN HER HISTORY

This Photo of Vernon County, was Provided by Don Scott, YNCS(SS) USN Retired, at Subpride@aol.com, and is Deeply Appreciated By All Who Come By and Visit This Site. On the Back of This Photo is Posted; >>>Naval Photographic Center USN K-40171, 7-21-68, South Vietnam - Led by a U.S.Navy Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) the (LST-1161) of River Assault Fotilla One Cruises Down the My Tho River During a Move of Commander Task Force 117 Ships from SOI Rap to Dong Tam and the Owner of This Site was aboard when These Pictures Above and Below were Taken of Vernon County. We would like to thank Lloyd King for downsizing the photograph for the site.

CLOSE UP OF THE PREVIOUS PHOTOGRAPH

Shipmates have asked: Why is the Mast on the Vernon County positioned backwards from the other LST's? According to our shipmate Manny Pena, while he was aboard and in a TYPHOON, the ship was taking over 40 degree rolls and the Mast was torn off and he and other radioman had to rig an emergency antenna for communications. The Shipyard in Yokosuka, when replacing installed it backwards.

THIS IS USS VERNON COUNTY LST 1161 DURING ONE OF HER VISITS IN THE VIETNAM DELTA PLAYING HOST TO THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCES

This 1968 Photograph was taken by and provided by Michael Harris at www.riverinesailor.com. Michael was a Radioman/Gunner with River Assault Squadron l5 and was aboard T-152-1 when they were moored alongside the Vernon County. USS Vernon County Served Her Country Very Well, and During Her Service in Vietnam, She as Well as Numerous Other Ships, Was a Rest Stop and Refuge for the Tired and Weary Men of The Mobile Riverine Forces Armored Troop Carriers (ATC's) and Monitors that had awesome fire power and served the Navy well in the Muddy Waters of the Rivers and Delta of Southeast Asia. She was Decommissioned on 14 June 1973 at Yokosuka, Japan, Vernon County was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy on 29 June 1973 on loan. She was Assigned the name "Amazonas" (T-21), and was Permanently Transferred, via cash sale, in December 1977. No other information has been able to be aquired about her since then. Vernon County earned A Presidential Unit Citation (28 February to 25 March 1969), three (3) Meritorious Unit Commendations, three (3) Navy Unit Commendations and 13 battle stars for her Vietnam War Service. She Was a Busy Lady during her service to Her Country and Her Crews. Over 50 LST's served in Vietman from the DMZ to the Delta and in the Rivers, with the loss of life to their crewman. Go to the Link Below and read about some of these situations during 1966 thru 1969.

FLIGHT QUARTERS ON A LANDING SHIP TANK

This was a call to "Flight Quarters" on the Vernon County. This was business as usual while we were in the rivers of Vietnam. There was never a dull moment while we were there. The LST's were a Valuable Resource to the Army and Marine Corps Troops in the Rivers and Delta at that time. This Photograph was Provided by Michael Garcia

This Photograph of Vernon County, Provided by Retired Chief Petty Officer Michael Garcia, was a Christmas Card that he purchased from the Ship's Store in 1967 and was mailed home to his parents for the Holidays.

For the Men who served aboard her, she was a Large Slow Target (LST). Our's was a job of long hard hours of work. She was put in harms way to serve those she was given the task to serve. Vernon County made enormous trips to Viet Nam supporting the Marines and Various Units of the Brown Water Navy. I had the pleasure to ride her from Yokosuka, Japan to the coast of Viet Nam and then on to Diego Garcia for Operation Reindeer. She was my first ride aboard ship, and one I shall never forget. She Served with Pride and Very Little Glory, for she was a member of the Gator Navy, Amphibious Forces, but she was highly decorated for her services to Her Country with no Fan Fare. A Navy we hear very little of or about today. She instilled pride in those of us that had the Honor of Her Company, whether we were ship's company or troops. May her name be in the history books and forever in the hearts of those that were a part of her history!! Ron Whaley, USN/Disabled, ACB-2

USS WINDHAM COUNTY LST 1170

This was a Sister Ship, and a Member of LanShipRon Nine. Great Photo of an LST with causeways attached to her port and starboard sides, which were used for beaching equipment. They were removed by Pelican Hooks and splashed into the water where Pusher Boats (converted Landing Craft) were used to marry them to the bow for a causeway to the beach for unloading heavy equipment. Technical Info Provided by Ron Whaley who Served 5 Years with ACB=2 on Pusher Boats. Was a Job with no Glory and Long Hours of Work. The Amphibious Navy is Hard and Dangerous Work for Everyone Involved.!!

THE NEW AMPHIBIOUS NAVY

The Wasp-Class are the largest Amphibious Ships in the world. The LHD is an improved follow-on to the five ship Tarawa-Class LHA's, sharing the basic hull and engineering plant. The LHD has an enhanced well deck, enabling it to carry three LCAC's (vice one LCAC in the LHA's). The flight deck and elevator scheme is also improved, which allows the ship to carry two more helicopters than it's predecessor,the LHA. Visit the Link provided below for more photos of these ships and specs provided there from the DOD.

HERE SHE IS "THE USS NEW YORK" THE NEWEST AMPHIBIOUS SHIP OF HER CLASS BUILT FOR THE US NAVY

She was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. She is the fifth in a new class of warship, designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003 , "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there." Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back." The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

PROUD MEMBER

Shipmates of the Vernon County are invited to sign in on the Link provided below by Military.Com. I communicate with some that are not logged in there. Please take the time to do so. We have shipmates who would like to have a Ship's Reunion and Association and contacts would be made from there. Thank You

PLEASE VIEW AND SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK

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THIS SITE IS A MEMBER OF THE TONKIN GULF YACHT CLUB

You Can Find Your Boat or Ship on Their Site Below if it was involved in and during the Vietnam Conflict, So pay The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club a Visit Below!!

DON'T MISS DON BLANKENSHIP'S RIVER VET SITE BELOW, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST ON THE NET AND HE HAS LOTS OF GREAT RIVER VET AND BROWN WATER NAVY LINKS !!!

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This Site is a Special Rememberance and Memorial to All Who Served and Were Wounded or Lost in The Rivers and Jungles of Southeast Asia. God Bless Them and Their Families Wherever They are Today! The Link Below "THE VETERAN" is Dedicated to Them!

****MY APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE**** This Site Owner would like to take this opportunity to thank all the former shipmates who have given of their time and contributions to this site. With their help we keep this site an interesting and Historical Event that will pay Tribute to All of Our Former Shipmates who were so much a part of all our lives in our younger years. GGRicks@webtv.net

OPERATION SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

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You Can Go To The Link Below and Order The License Frame Pictured Here

Since October 2002