USS TOM GREEN COUNTY (LST 1159)
Fleet Post Office
San Fransisco, California 96601
LST1159:03:1k
05750
Ser: 019
14 April 1967
From: Commanding Officier, USS TOM GREEN COUNTY (LST 1159)
To: Chief of Naval Operations (OP-C9E9)
Subj: Command History; submission of (U)
Ref: (a) OPMWVHNIG(?) 5750.12
Encl: (1) Chronology of Significant Events, 1966
(2) Narrative History of the USS TOM GREEN COUNTY(LST 1159), 1966
(3) Roster of Officers, 1 January 1966 and 31 December 1966
1. In accordance with reference (a), enclosures (1) through (5) are submitted as the command History of the USS TOM GREEN COUNTY (LST 1159) for the calander year 1966.
D. F. DAILY
Copy to:
CINCPACFLT(?)
CGNPHIEPAC(?)
COMLANSHIPFLOT ONE(?)
CONLANSHIPRON NINE(?)
COMLSTDIV NINTY TWO(?)
GROUP-4
Downgraded at 5 year intervals
Declassified after 12 years DECLASSIFIED
OP096H 2/16/77
CONFIDENTIAL
CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICIANT EVENTS
7 January Underway from Yokosuka, Japan.
13 January LCDR B. A. TROUTMAN, JR. relieved. CDR J. A. METCALF, III as COMLSTDIV NINTY—TWO .
28 January Operation Double Eagle.
29 January First LST Combat beaching since Inchon. Backloaded troops and vehicles. Operation Double Eagle terminated.
7 March Commenced 40 days upkeep period.
10-13 May R and R visit to Hong Kong
17 May Inport Saigon.
6 June CDR J. P. DORDAHL relieved LCDR B. A. TROUTMAN, JR. as COMLSTDIV NINTY—TWO.
13 June COMLSTDIV NINTY-TWO shifts pennant to USS VERNON COUNTY (LST 1161).
1 July LCDR D. F. DALLY reported aboard to relieve Captain TROUTMAN.
6 July COMLSTDIV NINTY—TWO shifts pennant to USS TOM GREEN COUNTY (LST 1159).
8 July Relieving ceremony on board.
25—29 July Type training.
9 August Inchon.
10 September Inchon.
17—26 Operating as part of the Vietnam Coastal November Surveillance Force (TF 115) .
11 December Returned to Yokosuka for holiday season.
15—16
December NWAI Inspection.
23—24 Administrative Inspection.
December
DECLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIAL
The year 1966 began with the ship in upkeep in its homeport Yokosuka, Japan with the men enjoying the holiday season and taking in the sights of Japan. Upon completion of the upkeep period on 7 January the ship loaded causeways and departed for Okinawa to load, troops and vehicles of FLSU “B”. On 13 January while underway in the South China Sea, LCDR B. A. TROUTMAN, JR., Commanding Officer of the USS TOM GREEN COUNTY assumed duties as COMLSTDIV NINTY-TWO, upon the departure of CDR J. A. METCALF, III. The Marines disembarked in Chu Lai on 17 January and the causeways were splashed several days later at Qui Nhon. The “Southbound Express” then turned North to make preparations for Operation Double Eagle.”
The TOM GREEN joined TG 76.6 comprised of the PAUL REVERE SKAGIT, CATAMOUNT, MONTICELLO, MONTROSE, FORT MARION, VALLY FORGE, NAVARRO, WINDHAM , WESTCHESTER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA CITY, BARRY and WEISS in conducting the largest amphibious operation of the Vietnam War. Despite rough seas and poor visibility, the TOM GREEN beached in the vicinity of Cap Mia on 29 January, accomplishing the first combat beaching since the Inchon landing of the Korean War. Another LST first was the TOM GREEN’s role as primary control ship, a part she took over from the MONTICELLO when the latter departed. As a measure of the sea condition the first few days of the operation, one of the ship’s LCVP’s was swamped, while making an approach into the well deck of the MONTICELLO where it had been sent to deliver lube oil. The offloading completed, the ship joined other units of the task force in making a secondary landing, acting again as Primary Control Ship. At the close of the operation, the ship backloaded from the beach and discharged its troops and vehicles at Chu Lai.
Following Double Eagle, the TOM GREEN COUNTY was scheduled for Da Nang—Chu Lai support and sailed to Subic for loading. Upon arrival, however, damage to the port shaft was discovered and the ship was forced to return to Yokosuka for repairs.
On March 7, we arrived in Yokosuka to commence an often postponed upkeep period, this one lasting a full forty days. Following the upkeep, the ship proceeded to Naha via Numasu where the OOD’s and JOOD’s got a crack at beaching the ship. In Naha, the men loaded vehicles for Da Nang. After a very smooth trip we off-loaded in Vietnam and turned for Subic Bay to load priority 2000 pound bombs for Da Nang and Chu Lai. The period at the ammunition pier in Subic afforded an excellent opportunity for the crew to relax. Each day there was a ball game at the excellent facilities in Subic, and the men relaxed in the warm sun while the stevedores handled explosives.
The off load of bombs was completed in Chu Lai where all 147 men on board went through a period of real sweat. The problem wasn’t explosives, but rather the ship’s boiler and water situation which nearly forced cancellation of a scheduled trip to Hong Kong.
The boiler was repaired in a real 1200 showdown, and on 10 May,.., a jubilant crew, soaked to the quick made passage up the Lei-Mun Pass in a driving rain to commence four days of sightseeing, buying and just having fun. Hong Kong was the ship’s first R and R port since August of 1965 and later proved to be the only one of the year.
Relaxed and refreshed, mentally anyway, it was back to work on the 14th when the ship got underway for Saigon to pick up cargo of the Army’s 69th Armored Battalion of the 25th Division, for delivery to Qui Nhon. Saigon proved to be a high point of excitement for the crew. Tenseness was obvious throughtout the city, with barricades erected in the streets and sentries guarding all armed forces buildings. There was liberty for all, however, eliminating the tenseness of the river transit and the frequent shifting of berths in the crowded river.
Following harrowing experiences in making the down river transit with a pilot who did not understand the peculiarities of handling an LST, the men offloaded the equipment in Qui Nhon and the ship headed for Da Nang to load retrograde vehicles for Naha. We arrived and offloaded in Naha in a matter of hours and made best speed for home, arriving on the 3rd of June.
On 6 June CDR J. P. DORDAHL relieved LCDR B. A. TROUTMAN, JR. as COMLSTDIV NINTY—TWO. One week. later on 13 June COMLSTDIV NINTY-TWO shifted his pennant to the USS VERNON COUNTY (LST 1161) and after a ten day upkeep it was underway again, this time for Naha with causeways. Both the vehicles loaded in Naha and causeways in Yokosuka were offloaded in Da Nang where retrograde vehicles were loaded for Naha.
In Naha where the ship arrived on July lst,Lieutenant Commander David F. DALLY, USN, the new Commanding Officer, reported aboard from instructor duty at West Point. The next day we headed home to Yokosuka via Numazu where the prospective Captain and the OOD’s practiced beaching.
The TOM GREEN COUNTY returned to Yokosuka on July 6th and COMLSTDIV NINTY-TWO shifted his pennant back to the ship where it remained for the rest of the year.
On July 8th, on the tank deck in very heavy winds and rain,LCDR DALLY and CDR TROUTMAN read their respective orders, and Captain DALLY assumed command of the TOM GREEN COUNTY. Upon being relieved, CDR TROUTMAN proceeded to the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania for duty under instruction.
The next fifteen days were spent in upkeep and were followed by type training in “Op area Charlie and at Numazu. The mount crews fired at sleeves and conducted shore bombardment exercises, firing at Inamba Shima. The line officers made practice beaching. at Numazu and the CIC personnel and boat crews exercised at boat control and combat beachings.
After a short respite in Yokosuka, the ship departed for Naha, Okinawa to load. U. S. Army units for Inchon, Korea where they were to have their annual war exercises.
The trip to Inchon was particularly noteworthy. First, because it was ma&e in company with another ship, the USS TERRELL COUNTY (LST 1157) and. thus afforded an excellent opportunity for inter— ship training. Second, because the transit proved. a challenging navigational experience requiring a precision approach to the harbor for transit through locks which are but a few inches wider and several feet longer than the ship. Inchon proved. to be a highly enjoyable liberty port for the men. After off loading, the ship transited the Shimonoseki Straits, enroute to Iwakuni to load lwSG—17 cargo for Da Nang. While in Iwakuni, many of the crew took advantage of the opportunity to visit Hiroshima, just one hour away by taxi. The shiv arrived in Da Nang on the 23rd of August, loaded retrograde ago and vehicles for Yokosuka and arrived back in home-port for a very brief stay 3—5 September.
The time in Yokosuka had. been cut short for the ship had to substitute for another ship of the squadron in picking up the men and vehicles from Inchon. The TOM GREEN departed for Inchon, transitted the Shimonoski Straits for the third time in a month and arrived in Korea on the 9th of September. We lifted the Army unit back to Okinawa then proceeded to Iwakuni for another load for Chu—Lai, putting into Iwakuni on the l6th, Chu Lai on the 25th. On the 28th, the TOM GREEN left Da Nang with retrograde for Okinawa. We offloaded LVT’s in Ora Wan, then rounded the southern tip of the island and offloaded the remaining cargo in Naha port. Next on the schedule was a general cargo lift form Naha to Chu Lai and then home. We arrived in Vietnam on the 9th of October, offloaded and steamed to Da Nang, backloaded and turned for Yokosuka where we arrived on the 19th for 12 days of upkeep.
In Yokosuka, the ship made preparations for the impending Market Time support operations for which we left on November 1st. Enroute to the Vietnamese coastal operation, however, we stopped in Iwakuni again, loaded and turned for Da Nang again via the Shimonseki Straits. The passage of these straits was memorable as Captain DALLY assumed the conn on the flying bridge and gave his commands to the watch in the pilot house. The men were indeed thankful that the entire watch remained. in the pilot house as there was a cold driving rain. After completing the offload in Da Nang, the “southbound express” again headed south, this time to Vung Tau to relieve the VERNON COUNTY in Market Time Operation. The-turnover completed on the 17th of November, we chopped to TG 115.3 and spent the next nine days directing and supporting four PCF’s and two WPB’s. The Market Time Support was especially taxing on the SIC personnel who were port and starboard trying to keep track of the boats. The nine days were also taxing on the deck force which daily replenished the four PCF’s. The period. of support afforded an opportunity for all who desired to ride the small craft for a Lull day during their surveillance.
The boat crews seemed very pleased with the support which the ship gave and commented that they hadn’t been treated like that since they’d been. on station. Among the items of support was the giving away sorely needed tools and many of the crew were reluctant to comply. Once they realized how greatly this offer was appreciated, they became very enthusiastic. The only complaint on the part of the boat crews was the taste of the water. Both the boilers and the evaporator were out of commission, and the water was some what stale.
On Thanksgiving Day the cooks turned out a superb meal with all the trimmings and then some To the POINT KENNEDY, one of the WPB’s whose crew was unable to cone aboard to partake on the feast, the Captain. donated a 15 pound turkey .
The TOM GREEN was relieved by the BLANCO COUNTY, on. station, then turned north for Da Nang to load, retrograde for Yokosuka. In Da Nang where we arrived on the 30th, a tragic incident occurred at a ship’s party at the 37th Signal Battalion Compound in which Fireman Apprentice Stephen Carl SHARP, 778 62 83, USNR of Houston, Texas was run over and killed by the “cattle car” backing out of its parking space to transport the men back to the ship. SHARP was serving on board with his brother who had been present at the party.
In the wake of the tragedy the ship left Da Nang for Yokosuk in the face of very rough seas and. high winds and just one day out discovered a critical water problem. The centerline fresh water tank holding nearly 70,000 gallons of water had salted over from a hole in the hull of the shin. With the evaporator still out of commission the men were Laced with very limited water resources and feared having to put into either Subic Bay or Kaohsiung for emergency repairs. Several days out, the temporary repairs to the boiler were effected, the seas calmed down, and the ship pushed on for Yokosuka, arriving on December 11th.
December was quite a month. With the men happy to see their families and friends on the one hand, they had ship’s work to do on the other. A Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection was conduct on board on the 15th and 16th and an Administrative Inspection by the Squadron Commander on the 23rd and 24th. Sandwiched in between, on the 19th and 20th were the annual Christmas parties. On the -24th the inspections were over and the ship was well into its upkeep. On Sunday, Christmas Day, officers and men finally got the break they had been waiting for.
Following Christmas Day, on Monday December 26th over half the crew came off liberty for a Christmas party for the ship’s Zushi Orphanage, a party which climaxed many months of fund-raisin;and hard work on the part of the men and their wives. On Tuesday, the holiday season over, the TOM GREEN COUNTY turned to make preparations for getting underway the following week.
During 1966, the ship rolled and stumped over 38,000 miles; ship’s force had consumed 4,572,997 gallons of fresh water; the engine rooms required 1,166,919 gallons of diesel and 25,920 gallons of lube oil. Each man well remembered those 38,000 miles and that he had gone to his Special Sea Detail or Condition station 130 times.
As the new year rolled around, a proud crew remembered that in June 1966 the TOM GREEN COUNTY had been nominated by COMPHIBPAC to represent the ships of Landing Ship Squadron NINE for the National Defense Transporation Association Award for outstanding service in connection with the Vietnam War. In making this nomination Vice Admiral ROEDER had written to the Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet:
"Starting on 8 March 1965 ships of the squadron participated in an assault and follow up shipping in the Da Nang, Hue and Chu Lai landings and again later in Operations Starlight, Double Eagle, and Jackstay. As the need for increased shipping requirements for RVN arose, the squadron was assigned intra—RVN, Okinawa-RVN and Subic—RVN high prioity and emergency lifts under various task designators. This entailed navigating and beaching in un— charted and dangerous waters in enemy controlled areas overcoming frustrations and delays in accomplishing necessary and important missions. Under those arduous conditions the squadron performed lifts of troops and material and tasks that other organizations were incapable of or would not do."
ROSTER OF OFFICERS
1 January 1966
LCDR B. A. TROUTMAN, JR, USN COMMANDING OFFICER
LT A. R. BOYLE, USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER
LTJG R. E. MILLER, SC, USN SUPPLY OFFICER
LTJG W. R. ROSENFELT, USN OPERATIONS OFFICER
LTJG D. J. RANSDELL, USNR ENGINEERING OFFICER
LTJG C. M. MERRINER, USNR FIRST LIEUTENANT
LTJG W. J. NEIDLINGER, JR, USNR GUNNERY OFFICER
ENS R. H. TERHUNE, USNR PERSONNEL OFFICER
ENS C. H. ALEXANDER, USNR DAMAGE CONTROL ASSISTANT
ENS J. N. BAKER, USNR ASSISTANT FIRST LIEUTENANT
ENS J. E. STAMPER, USNR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
31 December 1966
LCDR D. F. DALLY, USN COMMANDING OFFICER
LT. A. R. BOYLE, USN EXECUTIVE OFFICER
LTJG W. J. NEIDLINGER, JR, USNR FIRST LIEUTENANT
LTJG C. H . ALEXANDER , USNR ENGINEERING OFFICER
LTJG STAMPER , USNR OPERATIONS OFFICER
LTJG B. T. ASEBY, USN COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
LTJG R. F. SZYMANSKI, USN ASSISTANT FIRST LIEUTENANT
ENS J. P. BLUM, USNR GUNNERY OFFICER
ENS C. R. JONES, SC, USNR SUPPLY OFFICER
ENS M. M. KRESS, USN DAMAGE CONTROL OFFICER