USS VERNON COUNTY LST 1161 (LANDING SHIP TANK)

"IN HONOR AND REMEMBERANCE OF ALL WHO SERVED"

PLEASE ALLOW THE PAGES TIME TO SCROLL HERE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PHOTOS ON THIS SITE

UNDERWAY ON THE 1156 CLASS LST

This photo was provided by Bernie Lafianza and it is the former ship he served aboard (USS Washoe County LST 1165). It was sold to the Peruvian Navy and is still in service!! Bernie and his wife visited the ship in Peru this year and mentioned that she was in Top Notch Shape.

These Pages are an Extension of the "HOME FOR USS VERNON COUNTY SITE" Consisting of Three Pages, Ship's Photos, Links, and Photos of ex Crew Members. Please Enjoy Your Visit Here!!!

READ ABOUT HER MEDALS AND DECORATIONS BELOW

Tank Landing Ship LST1161

Great Website about Agent Orange on the Link Proveded Below

AGENT ORANGE

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SHIPMATES ABOARD AND IN THE RIVERS DURING THE PERIOD 1965 TO 1967..................

E-mail message
Date: Sat, Nov 24, 2007, 6:27am From: Roni..Edwards.. boomer2480@sbcglobal.net.. Subject: Deck Logs

Hi Ricks.
I served aboard the VC from april 65 to july 67. I have many copies of deck reports from that period that I have left over from my AO diabetes claim with the VA. If somebody that was aboard during that period and is filing an AO claim I will send them some to show the ship in the rivers / inland water ways and harbors. They will not get there claim approved with out them and maybe I can save them some time and money because it's not cheap to get these and it takes for ever. Could you post this somewhere where former crew members can see it.I have know idea where to post it myself. Thanks Ricks and good luck to you.

Ron Edwards EN3

THIS COPY-RIGHTED SHIPS PATCH IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR CAPS, SHIRTS AND JACKETS

Patches are 4x4 inches, and quality embroidered. The price for these are $5.50 ea and that includes shipping and handling. Send order to: Gerold G Ricks, 2708 W San Gabriel, Fresno, CA. 93705 and allow five days delivery. There are a limited number of these on this first order and the response has been great!!

USS VERNON COUNTY ALONGSIDE APA 45

I looked at the title page again and it says 1960-61 cruise...just before I went on the Terrell (MAY 60)
PHIBRON 1 had an exercise in Seattle/Tacoma area, docking at Tacoma...this is probably when it
was taken....think some T's went along on that trip...
This photo of Vernon County was taken from the bridge of the USS Henrico (APA-45)
George O'Connell
USS Terrell County (LST-1157)

THE USS VERNON COUNTY IN SHIMIZU, JAPAN IN EARLY 1962

Hello, my name is Bill Thiessen. I was an EN2 aboard the Vernon County October '61 to Sep '62. Of the 4 ships I served aboard in 10 years, the "itchi itchi roku itchi" was my favorite. I left her after only one year to go to nuclear power school. I've waited a long time to give this picture of her to someone who would appreciate it. We were anchored at Shimizu Japan in early '62. The picture shows the ship with Mount Fuji in the background. I have the original. It was developed in Jan 1962 in Yokohoma, Japan and is so stamped on the back. We were on our one and only visit to Shimizu and I think we were there as a policy to disperse ships homeported in Yokosuka when more than one carrier came into port. I was in a Liberty Boat enroute to or from the ship and I fired off a shot with my two-bit Minolta! I was not even paying attention to the mountain in the background and was very suprised to see it turn out as it did.There was a "story" behind our visit to Bangkok in '62. If you are interested I can tell it to the best of my memory and send it to you!! Question for you: Was there a turntable in the tank deck? I can't remember. This was a great find shipMates!!! You can also see a photo of Bill on the Crew's Photo Page!! Much Thanks to you Bill Thiessen!!! Yes, there was a turntable in the Tank Deck.

Photograph provided by retired Navy Captain Gerald Miller, who served aboard Vernon County (June 68 to Jan 71) This Photo of a Night Fire Mission by the 3"/50's was taken during the period when Vernon County was Deployed to the Ca Mau Peninsula-Square Bay area on the extreme southwest coast of South Vietnam between 25 November 1969 and 21 January 1970

IN DRY DOCK AT YOKO IN DEC. 1961

This Photo of the Vernon County in Dry Dock was provided by our shipmate Art Partner and more photos of shipmates were provided on the crews' photo page below on this site. Thanks Art!!!

USS VERNON COUNTY LST 1161 BEACHED IN DIEGO GARCIA

This Photo of Vernon County was sent to us today by an old shipmate who was aboard her in Diego Garcia with ACB-2, and this is beautiful, and notice she is painted white, and she was the only Landing Ship Tank painted white for her service in Diego Garcia. Many thanks Ron Whaley!! Credit for this photo goes to: Ted Morris at: http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/seabees.html

USS VERNON COUNTY (All Dressed in White) BRINGS THE FIRST 'SEABEES' TO DIEGO GARCIA IN 1971

Thanks to Ron Whaley for the Photo!! This Photo also came From Ted Morris' Seabees and USS Graham County Site. Go to the link here; http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/71.html, and read some of the war stories written by some of the Navy's Best who were there in 1971 and Later!!

PAINTED WHITE FOR THE TRIP TO DIEGO GARCIA

Vernon County was the only LST painted white for this duty in Diego Garcia. This is one very hot spot in the Indian Ocean and the white paint helped reflect the intense heat from the sun during the daylight hours. Our shipmate Ron Whaley was aboard at that time.

GREAT SHOT OF THE MARINES LANDING

All of you Shipmates remember these Landings a lot in Vietnam I am sure!!

OFF-LOADING US MARINES AT CHU LAI VIETNAM

This Photograph was provided by Navsource and courtesy of Dick Lindenauer. Off-Loading U.S. Marines at Chu Lai in Vietnam.
From: Cfdaubert@cs.com Date: Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 8:18pm (PDT+3) To: LST1161@webtv.net This photograph was taken in May 1965, I was on the Vernon County the day it was taken. There were a total of 595 (55 galllon) drums of Jet Fuel you see on the main deck, we had to unload them by rolling them over the side, there is a landing boat tied up to the stern to push the drums into beach with her prop., and in the tank deck there was 900 tons of ammo.
Thank you for the great pictures , Carl F Daubert 1963 to 1965 USS Vernon County LST 1161.
P S we also won the Battle "E" 3 years in a row. The last one during our tour of Viet Nam in 1965.

US MARINES BEING LOADED IN DANANG

Hello Chief, This picture was printed in the Yomuiiri Shimun, in the summer of 1965. The caption under the picture says; "U.S.Marines are being loaded aboard a small ship in Danang, RVN for transport to Okinawa, the small ship can get closer to shore than larger ones". Guess What? That was our Landing Ship Tank, USS Vernon County LST 1161 and she was beached, but I wouldn't call her a small ship! Sent to us by GMCM Kenneth Ray USN Retired

LOADING MARINES AT THE BASE OF MT FUJI

Photo provided by Mike Smolinski and Navsource

PROUD MEMBER

Vernon County was a Proud Member of the Riverine Force in Vietnam and Served Her Country Along with Many Other LST's... Some of Those Gracious Ladies are Listed on the List of Links Provided on the Next Page!! You are All invited to Join the Mobile Riverine Forces Association!!