Korean War
LST-975 was still in service there when at 0400 on 25 June 1950 the North Korean People's Army struck south across the 38th Parallel. On 27 June President Harry S. Truman ordered American naval and air support of the Republic of Korea. That afternoon the Security Council called upon all members of the United Nations to assist in repelling the North Korean attack. With the need for shipping for an immediate large-scale lift of troops and supplies, LST-975 was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) on 1 July, to be manned by a Japanese civilian crew. On 28 August she recommissioned at Yokosuka, Japan, with Lieutenant Arnold W. Harer in command. After training out of Kobe, Japan, LST-975 joined the Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, and arrived off Inchon, Korea, on 15 September for supply duty through the landings on 15 to 17 September, and into the middle of October. That first day she was repeatedly harassed by sniper fire as she beached on "Red Beach;" a mortar shell wounded one man. While she unloaded during the next few days, marine casualties were brought on board for care by Surgical Team 3. Completing unloading by the 17th, she spent the next month on ship-to-shore supply operations.
On 15 October the tank landing ship departed Inchon for Wonsan, arriving the 25th, five days after the original landings. The difficulties of land transportation on the peninsula repeatedly emphasized the key importance of seaborne supply. LST-975's supply runs lasted into the middle of 1951. She departed Yokosuka, Japan, on 1 May for the west coast, arriving San Diego the 26th, and operated along the California coast for the next eight months before returning to the Far East. LST-975 arrived off Yokosuka on 11 March 1952. She again supported the deterrent efforts of the United Nations Forces in Korea from 4 April during protracted armistice negotiations until departing on 20 October for the west coast.
LST-975 received six battle stars for Korean War service.
Read more about this topic: USS Marion County (LST-975)
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