USS Washoe County (LST-1165) - Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Service

Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Service

In January 1954, LST-1165 joined the United States Atlantic Fleet and became part of the Atlantic Amphibious Force. After completing training in the vicinity of Hampton Roads, Virginia, in early spring 1954, LST-1165 became very active in United States Naval Reserve training and made cruises to Miami, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; New York City; and Havana, Cuba.

During 1955, LST--1165 participated in many Atlantic Fleet exercises which took her from Labrador to the Caribbean. She also took part in the filming of the motion picture "Away All Boats" at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. On 1 July 1955, USS LST-1165 was renamed USS Washoe County (LST-1165). On 5 November 1955, the ship arrived at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she spent the remainder of 1955.

Washoe County completed underway preparations at Little Creek on 20 February 1956 and, after a brief stop at Morehead City, North Carolina, sailed on 25 February 1956 for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She conducted exercises in the Caribbean until 29 April 1956, when she returned to Miami, Florida. For the next few months, Washoe County worked along the United States East Coast taking part in various operations.

Washoe County departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 27 August 1956 and headed for the Mediterranean and her first tour with the United States Sixth Fleet. She also visited ports in Spain, Morocco, France, and Tunisia before returning to Hampton Roads on 5 February 1957.

The next three months of 1957 found Washoe County operating in the Norfolk area. On 28 March 1957, she headed for the Caribbean and operations at Barbados, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico. She returned to Morehead City on 14 April 1957 and spent the remainder of 1957 in local operations in the Chesapeake Bay area.