USS Westchester County (LST-1167) - 1960s

1960s

She resumed her training schedule out of San Diego until 1 August 1960 when she shifted to Port Hueneme to load cargo and take on fuel. The next day, she set course for her new home port of Yokosuka, Japan via the Hawaiian Islands and Okinawa. The ship beached at Numazu, Japan on 5 September 1960 to commence a series of large scale amphibious exercises with SEATO forces. From 1 to 31 December, Westchester County underwent overhaul at the Yokosuka Naval Base. The year 1961 was spent making logistic runs between Subic Bay, Okinawa, and North Borneo. Westchester County spent November and December. 1961 in upkeep at her home port. Westchester County got underway on 18 January 1962 for sea trials and refresher training. On 10 March she rendezvoused with other units of the Pacific Fleet and departed for Mindoro, Philippines for amphibious warfare maneuvers. The ship returned to Yokosuka on 20 April and resumed a normal training schedule. The communist threat in Vietnam interrupted this training period and, on 13 May, Westchester County was underway for Subic Bay with a combat load of marines.

On 15 June 1962 the tank landing ship returned to Yokosuka for upkeep and in-port training. She then conducted operations at Keelung, Taiwan; Subic Bay; Bangkok, Thailand; and Naha, Okinawa. During October, the ship participated in amphibious "Exercise Lone Eagle." This exercise was delayed in Okinawa due to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which put United States ships on a worldwide alert. On 12 November Westchester County returned to her home port of Yokosuka, where she spent Christmas. On 28 December 1962 she departed for a New Year's visit to Tokyo, Japan. The year 1963 began with a cold weather operation in Korea which commenced on 16 January. Westchester County spent the time until 24 May shuttling marine personnel and equipment to Naha, Tsoying, and Numazu, Japan with interspersed upkeep periods at Yokosuka. On 24 May she sailed from Naha to transport Korean soldiers from Pusan to Pohang, Korea. After a brief upkeep at Sasebo, Japan Westchester County took part in "Operation Flagpole", a joint amphibious exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marines which concluded on 29 June. July and August were spent in upkeep at Yokosuka, followed by "Exercise Bayonet Beach" on 5 September at Tong Po Pi, Korea. Westchester County returned to Yokosuka on 19 September for inspections and amphibious training. On 7 October the ship sailed for Okinawa where she sustained damage to her bow ramp which required repairs at Sasebo until 29 October. After a brief Marine lift to Okinawa, Westchester County returned to Yokosuka on 9 November for regular overhaul. The ship went into drydock on 27 December 1963 and thus ended the year.

Westchester County remained in drydock until 31 January 1964 and underwent sea trials, refresher training, and amphibious refresher training at Yokosuka until 8 May. She departed Yokosuka on 19 May for Naha, and the first of many Marine lifts between Okinawa, Japan, and the Philippines which occupied the ship until 9 August. At that time, due to the Tonkin Gulf Incident, Westchester County departed Naha for extended operations off Vietnam in the South China Sea. She returned to Subic Bay on 2 October and began a series of Marine lifts between Naha and Buckner Bay, Tsoying, and Yokosuka. On 19 November the ship returned to Yokosuka and underwent upkeep and underway training until 24 December when she visited Tokyo. Westchester County departed Tokyo on 28 December 1964 and returned to Yokosuka. Westchester County started 1965 with two Marine lifts between Okinawa and Japan. February was spent at Okinawa; and, on 3 March, the ship transported marines and vehicles to Subic Bay. Between 17 March and 15 April the tank landing ship completed two Marine lifts to Da Nang, South Vietnam. On 29 April she departed Buckner Bay for the first amphibious landing at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. This operation was the largest in the Pacific since the Korean War. From 11 May to 24 May, the ship made two turnaround trips between Naha, Okinawa, and Chu Lai. Following upkeep at Yokosuka, Westchester County spent the period from 22 June to 15 August making Marine lifts to Da Nang and Chu Lai. She returned to Yokosuka for upkeep until 30 September when she transported marines from Naha to Numazu for cold weather operations.