USS Vernon County (LST-1161) - Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Operations, 1953-1958

Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Operations, 1953-1958

After conducting her shakedown cruise, LST-1161 operated off the United States East Coast out of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek at Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Morehead City, North Carolina, through mid-February 1954. She subsequently deployed twice to Caribbean operating areas during 1954. During an exercise at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, between 11 April 1954 and 7 May 1954, she participated in the filming of the movie Away All Boats.

LST-1161 entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1954 for extensive modifications. Once those alterations and repairs were completed, she headed for Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek at Virginia Beach, arriving there on 19 December 1954.

LST-1161 was renamed USS Vernon County (LST-1161) on 1 July 1955.

Vernon County operated with the Amphibious Forces of the United States Atlantic Fleet, alternating between Norfolk, Virginia, and Little Creek as her home ports. During her years of operations from those places, she deployed regularly to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean areas.