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U.S.S. GARRETT COUNTY

(LST-786)

RINGLERS CIRCUS
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USS GARRETT COUNTY (LST-786 ) - a LST-542-class tank landing ship

In Commission 1944 to 1946

LST-786 Deployments - Major Events

Add a LST-786 Shellback Initiation Add a LST-786 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
MAY1944-Keel Date: 21 MAY 1944
at Dravo Corporation Neville Island Pittsburgh PA
JUL1944-Launch Date: 22 JUL 1944
AUG1944-Commissioned: 28 AUG 1944
JAN1966-JAN1970West Pac-Viet Nam
JUL1966-Shellback Initiation - 14 JUL 1966 - Pacific Ocean
OCT1966-OCT1966Recommisioning
OCT1966-APR1971West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1968-FEB1968Tet Offensive rescue mission
JAN1968-JAN1970West Pac
MAY1969-JUL1971West Pac-Viet Nam
JUL1969-JUL1970West Pac-Viet Nam
APR1971-Decommissioned: 23 APR 1971

LST-786 General Specifications

Class: LST-542-class tank landing ship

Displacement: 1625 tons

Length: 328 feet

Beam: 50 feet

Draft: Loaded - 8' FWD - 14' AFT

Flank Speed: 12 knots



USS GARRETT COUNTY (LST-786)



LST-786 was laid down by Dravo Corp. Neville Island Pittsburgh Pa. 21 May 1944 launched 22 July; sponsored by Mrs. E. B. Keckler; and commissioned 28 August 1944 Lt. Eli T. Ringler USCG in command.

After shakedown off Florida LST-786 departed Mobile Ala. 30 September and sailed for the Pacific. She loaded cargo and men of the 112th Navy Construction Battalion at Pearl Harbor before arriving Eniwetok 28 December. During January 1946 the landing ship made another cruise to Pearl Harbor for supplies returning to the Marshall Islands 21 February.

With Iwo Jima now in American hands LST-786 transported a group of Seabees to that tiny volcano island in late March. While at Iwo she embarked 114 prisoners of war for transportation to Guam arriving there 20 April. Eight days later she sailed with another detachment of Seabees bound for that last Japanese barrier -- Okinawa. Arriving 8 May in the area off "Green Beach " LST-786 unloaded her cargo under the constant threat from enemy air raids and sailed 20 May for the Philippines.

For the rest of the war she shuttled troops and equipment among the Philippines and to Okinawa further strengthening the path to Japan. On 4 August her convoy was attacked by an enemy submarine which was sunk by Earle V. Johnson (DE-703) after a 3-hour duel.

After V-J Day LST-786 operated in the Far East. where she provided transportation services for the occupation troops in Japan Korea and Okinawa. The landing ship departed Sasebo 8 December and arrived San Francisco 14 January 1946. LST-786 decommissioned at Astoria Oreg. 9 July 1946 and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

She was assigned the name Garrett County 1 July 1955. As the American role in the Far East expanded the need for landing craft increased to handle the large buildup of U. S. forces in Vietnam. Garrett County recommissioned 15 October 1966 for service in the Pacific Fleet. Early in 1967 she sailed for the Far East and for the next months operated off Vietnam supporting the struggle to thwart Communist aggression in Southeast Asia.

LST-786 received one battle star for World War II service.

[Note: The above USS GARRETT COUNTY (LST-786) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS GARRETT COUNTY (LST-786) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]