Grant County LST-1174

Grant County

Counties in Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

(LST-1174: dp. 3,560 (It.), 1. 445', b. 62', dr. 16'8", s.
17 k.; cpl. 172; a. 4 3''; cl. Suffolk County)

Grant County (LST-1174) was laid down by Avondale Marine Ways, Inc., Avondale, La., 15 March 1956; launched 12 October 1956; sponsored by Mrs. John Martin Higgins; and commissioned 17 December 1957, Lt. Comdr. R. B. Nichols in command.

After shakedown, Grant County performed amphibious exercises.along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean throughout 1958. From 1958 to 1962 the LST excelled in training and experimental amphibious operations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and on two occasions the Mediterranean (1958. 1961) .

Following operations with Marines at Camp Pendleton in October 1962, Grant County' was dispatched to Florida for assignment during the Cuban missile crisis. Her constant training paid dividends, for the show of strength displayed by the Navy averted an atomic catastrophe, and once again left undisputed America's claim to superiority on the sea. When the crisis eased, Grant County resumed her training, and remained on alert in the event of another flare-up.

In May 1965, the Communist threat to the Western Hemisphere struck again, this time in the Dominican Republic. President Johnson ordered Marines to the Caribbean island to protect American interests and help stabilize the government. When the situation showed signs of diminishing, Grant County departed Little Creek, VA., 1 June for the Caribbean. She embarked Marines and Seabees stationed in the Dominican Republic and returned them to the United States. On 3 October she sailed for another Mediterranean deployment and participated in amphibious exercises before returning home 31 March 1966.

During the next 4 months Grant County participated in intermittent amphibious exercises along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean. During August she made two runs to the Dominican Republic to return troops and equipment to the United States. She continued shuttle runs along the East Coast until 1 December when she began a 3-month overhaul. In March 1967 she resumed training and readiness operations with amphibious forces and at present she ranges the seas from the Virginia Capes to the Caribbean while maintaining the efficiency and readiness of her crew and equipment.