USS Sedgwick County (LST-1123) - Korean War Service

Korean War Service

In late June 1950, while LST-1123 was undergoing overhaul at San Francisco, the Army of North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel and pushed south to occupy most of the Republic of Korea (ROK). By the end of July, the LST had returned to San Diego; loaded Construction Battalion equipment at Port Hueneme; and sailed west.

At Yokosuka by the end of August, she shifted to Kobe; and, on 10 September, sailed for the embattled Korean peninsula to participate in the amphibious landing at Inchon. On the afternoon of the 15th, she anchored off Blue Beach and began launching LVTs under protective fire from the covering force. Then, she remained in the Inchon area into October, shuttling passengers and cargo from transports and cargo ships in the harbor.

On 15 October, she departed Inchon. Ten days later, she arrived off Wonsan and, as the 1st Marine Division was landed administratively on the Kalma peninsula, commenced shuttle operations similar to those at Inchon. From 1 November until 3 November, she transported ROK Marines to, and landed them at, Kosong; then shifted back to Wonsan.

By the 18th, U.S. Marines had reached the Chosin Reservoir; ROK forces were moving on Chongjin; and U.S. Army units were pushing toward North Korea's northern borders. Hungnam had been chosen as a new supply center, and LST-1123 was ordered to carry tanks and other vehicles to that port.

On 28 November, she headed back to Japan, whence she returned to the west coast of Korea. From 5 December 1950 until 7 January 1951, she remained in the Inchon area, then carried troops and cargo to Taechon. At mid-month, she returned to Yokosuka. In February, she carried POW's from Pusan to Koje Do. In March, she continued operations in the Pusan area and, in early April, she returned to Yokosuka, whence she got underway for California on the 25th.

Arriving at San Diego on 23 May, LST-1123 conducted local operations through the remainder of the year. During the winter of 1952, she underwent overhaul at San Francisco; and, on 26 May, got underway to return to the Far East. On 30 June, she arrived at Yokosuka; shifted to Sasebo at the end of the month; and, by 2 August, was back in Pusan harbor to start her second tour in the Korean combat zone.

Shuttle runs to Japan and to Pongam Do occupied the first part of the month. She then returned to Japan and, into October, conducted training exercises. On 10 October, she sailed for Korea. On the 15th, she participated in an amphibious feint at Kojo; and, on the 17th, she returned to Japan. By the 20th, she was back at Inchon, whence, into late November, she carried ammunition to U.N.-held offshore islands.

LST-1123 spent December at Yokosuka; and, in January 1953, she steamed back to Inchon. From there she sailed to Pusan; made cargo runs to Kojo Do and back to Inchon; then proceeded to Yokosuka, whence she sailed for San Diego, arriving there on 5 March.

For the remainder of 1953, LST-1123 operated off the west coast. In January 1954, she again sailed for the Far East. She delivered landing craft and vehicles to Yokosuka in late February; conducted amphibious exercises in the Volcano Islands in March, off Korea in April, and in Japanese waters in July. During those months and through September, she also carried cargo between Japanese and Korean ports. In October, she sailed for home.

After her arrival on 10 November, LST-1123 operated off the west coast into 1955. That spring, she began inactivation at Astoria; and, in the summer, she returned to San Diego. Named Sedgwick County on 1 July 1955, she was decommissioned on 9 September and berthed with the Reserve Fleet.