USS Westchester County (LST-1167) - Vietnam War Service

Vietnam War Service

After reloading at Yokosuka, Westchester County transported Korean troops from Pusan, Korea to Qui Nhan, South Vietnam. From 7 to 21 November she joined in "Operation Blue Marlin", making two landings at Tarn Ky, South Vietnam. These landings were followed by stops at Camranh Bay, Phan Rang, and Da Nang. She arrived at Yokosuka on 16 December and spent Christmas at her home port. On 26 December she put to sea to load cargo at Iwakuni, Japan arriving on the 28th and departing for Naha the next day. On 31 December 1965 she arrived at Naha and there celebrated the New Year. During 1966 Westchester County served extensively in carrying cargo to the Republic of Vietnam in support of American forces ashore. On 24 January the ship joined in "Operation Double Eagle", an amphibious assault at Cap Mai, Vietnam. From February throughout August, Westchester County transported troops and equipment to Qui Nhon, Chu Lai, and Da Nang. This duty was interspersed with port visits to Hong Kong and repairs at Subic Bay and Yokosuka. On 1 September 1966 Westchester County anchored at Vung Tau, Vietnam to begin operations as the support ship for "Operation Market Time". Until 4 October the ship steamed continuously on station off the Ca Mau Peninsula; refueling, replenishing, and serving as a base for the boats and crews who patrolled the coast of Vietnam to prevent infiltration by sea. After returning to Yokosuka, the ship spent the period from 16 October through 31 December undergoing upkeep interspersed with a short training visit to Okinawa and port visits to Keelung, Taiwan and Hiroshima, Japan. From 3 January to 15 March 1967 Westchester County transported troops and supplies between Okinawa and Vietnam. The tank landing ship went into overhaul on 15 March at Yokosuka, followed by refresher training which lasted through 5 August. Westchester County spent the remaining months of 1967 carrying marines and equipment between Yokosuka, Okinawa, and Vietnam. The LST served as a Mobile Riverine Force support ship in the Mekong Delta from 24 October through 31 December 1967.

Westchester County spent the early weeks of 1968 continuing service as a Mobile Riverine support ship. On 26 January the tank landing ship began a series of lifts from Okinawa, Japan, and the Philippines to Vietnam. She underwent repair availability and training exercises from 16 July through 22 September. The tank landing ship resumed duty with the Mobile Riverine Forces on 22 September. Tragedy struck on 1 November while Westchester County lay anchored in the vicinity of My Tho, Vietnam. Two giant underwater explosions ripped through Westchester County, killing 26 men. The enemy limpet mines had been attached to the hull about amidships on the starboard side causing ruptured berthing compartments and fuel and storage tanks. Command-detonated mines were used extensively on "The Long Tau" (Saigon—Vung Tau). U.S. minesweepers normally operated between Nha Be south to the ocean, and South Vietnamese operated from Nha Be to Newport. The day following the explosion, the entire Mobile Riverine Force moved from My Tho to Dong Tam. After beaching at Dong Tam for temporary repairs, she returned to Yokosuka, via Subic Bay, on 26 November. Westchester County went into drydock at the United States Naval Ship Repair Facility where it remained until 5 February 1969. Upon completion of refresher training and upkeep, the ship got underway on 10 March 1969 for "Operation Market Time" off the Vietnam coast. From 5 July through 23 August, Westchester County joined in the first phase of Vietnam troop withdrawal. The remainder of 1969 was spent carrying personnel and equipment from Korea, Japan, and Okinawa to Vietnam with intermittent periods of repair and liberty. The beginning of the 1970s found Westchester County operating off the northern coast of Vietnam. During February, she conducted troop and equipment withdrawal from South Vietnam, then underwent restricted availability at Yokosuka beginning on 4 March. April through July were spent transporting personnel and cargo from Japan and Okinawa to Vietnam. On 2 August she relieved the Washoe County off the Ca Mau Peninsula for "Operation Solid Anchor", which consisted of fueling boats and helicopters. Nine of Westchester County's sailors received the Combat Action Ribbon when they withstood enemy small arms and rocket fire while transiting the Bo De River.

Following a restricted availability at Yokosuka which commenced on 30 October, Westchester County made stops at Camranh Bay, Da Nang, Hong Kong, Okinawa, and Iwakuni, Japan before departing on 17 November for a vehicle lift from Chinhae, South Korea to Okinawa. Westchester County spent the first half of December involved in landing rehearsals and gunnery exercises. She then transited to Singapore to enjoy a Christmas visit. The ship closed out the year en route to Subic Bay. During January 1971 Westchester County sailed between Hong Kong and Subic Bay. On 2 February she departed Subic Bay en route to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of "Operation Lamson III", the Cambodian operation which lasted until 7 March. After restricted availability and training at Okinawa and Yokosuka, the ship returned to Vietnam on 21 June and continued operations. From 6 August through 1 September, Westchester County assumed the administrative duties as SOPA (senior officer present afloat) in Hong Kong. Following restricted availability at Yokosuka, the ship lifted personnel and equipment of an Army security agency for transit to Pusan, and returned them to Okinawa on 6 December. During this period, she transported marines from Japan to Okinawa, departing Okinawa on 24 November to spend Thanksgiving at Yokosuka. Following the off-load of Army personnel on 6 December, Westchester County returned to Yokosuka for the holiday season, arriving on 10 December. Westchester County completed a restricted availability on 17 January 1972 and set out for a lift to Subic Bay. The tank landing ship spent February at Subic Bay undergoing repairs and local operations. After SOPA duties at Hong Kong from 15 to 31 March, the ship resumed personnel and cargo transits to the Gulf of Tonkin until 30 August 1972. During this period, the tank landing ship underwent a seven-week restricted availability followed by refresher training at Yokosuka.