USS Washoe County (LST-1165) - Western Pacific Service

Western Pacific Service

Washoe County departed Little Creek on 6 January 1958, stopped briefly at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, then transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Diego, California, on 27 January 1958. She remained there for the next five months. On 10 June 1958, she began supply runs to Seal Beach, Port Hueneme, and San Nicolas Island, California.

Washoe County returned to San Diego on 26 June 1958 for a month's rest before sailing for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 23 July 1958. The ship returned to San Diego on 20 August 1958 and spent the rest of 1958 in operations off the California coast.

During the early months of 1959, Washoe County was at San Diego preparing for an upcoming Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. She set course for Japan on 15 April 1959 and arrived at Sasebo, Japan, on 7 May 1959. Except for a visit to Hong Kong during June 1959, Washoe County operated between Okinawa and Japan into the autumn of 1959. She returned to San Diego on 26 November 1959 and conducted local operations in waters off the California coast through the end of the year.

During the first half of 1960, Washoe County conducted various operations along the United States West Coast, including Operation Swan Dive off Cape Pendleton; Operation Bay Island off Tacoma, Washington, with the United States Army and United States Air Force; and Operation Shark Bite at San Francisco, California, with United States Marine Corps reservists.

On 1 July 1960, Washoe County's home port was changed to Yokosuka, Japan. One month later, she sailed for the Western Pacific; she stopped at Pearl Harbor, then arrived at Iwakuni, Japan, on 3 September 1960. She spent September and October 1960 carrying United States Marine Corps troops and vehicles with stops in Naha and Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and Numazu, Japan. Washoe County completed a restricted availability on 17 October 1960 and, after a visit to Hong Kong, took part in Operation Packboard off Okinawa from 11 November 1960 to 19 November 1960. On 7 December 1960, she commenced an overhaul at Yokosuka which lasted into 1957.

Washoe County finished her yard work on 8 February 1961 and began training. She then made a visit to Tokyo and remained there until 22 March 1961. The months of April and May were occupied with operations off Vietnam in the South China Sea, and she returned to Japan late in the spring for local operations. From 2 August 1961 to 14 August 1961, Washoe County participated in Operation Sharp Edge off Korea. The ship ended 1961 by taking part in Operation Fiesta at San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, commemorating the 17th anniversary of the landing of United States forces in the Philippine Islands in World War II.

On 17 February 1962, Washoe County began her participation in the large-scale Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Exercise Tulungan in the Philippine area which lasted through 20 April 1962. She then devoted the remainder of 1962 to visiting the ports of Keelung, Taiwan; Subic Bay, the Philippines; Hong Kong; and Beppu and Kyūshū, Japan. During July and August 1962, she joined in Operation Seven Seas off Korea. On 8 December 1962, she entered the shipyard at Yokosuka for an overhaul.

She devoted the major portion of 1963 to routine operations and training and from 12 June 1963 to 30 June 1963 participated in her only operation of the year, Operation Flagpole. On 30 September 1963, Washoe County rescued 15 men from the foundering Japanese fishing vessel, Shoyo Maru No. 10, near Miyako Jima.

The year 1964 began with Washoe County moored at Yokohama. From 3 January 1964 to 27 January 1964, she underwent upkeep at Yokosuka. An administrative inspection of the ship held on 3 February 1964 was followed by preparations for the upcoming Exercise Back Pack which she conducted from 26 February 1964 to 16 March 1964.

Washoe County lifted ammunition from Sasebo to Numazu, Japan, from 10 April 1964 to 17 April 1964. The ship participated in Operation Ligtas from 29 May 1964 to 8 June 1964, then sailed to Hong Kong for a port visit. She spent July 1964 undergoing another physical security inspection plus sea trials.