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1969 The USS Snohomish County spent the first part of 1969 employed in and around Da Nang in general logistic support. Having completed her Da Nang employment in February 1969, Snohomish County proceeded to Kaohsiung, Taiwan for 6 days of R & R There she met with the USS Caroline County (LST 525) and group sailed with her to Guam.
On 22 March, the first dual exchange of Command and Crew in the Amphibious Navy took place between the USS Snohomish County and USS Caroline County. LT. Ryan relieved LT. Wilson as Commanding Officer of the Snohomish County. LT. Wilson took command of the Caroline County. Following the change over, the original crew of the Snohomish County took the USS Caroline County back to San Diego for decommissioning. The Snohomish County in turn replaced the Caroline as a member of Landing Ship Squadron THREE, home ported in Guam, M.I.. |
| USS Snohomish County - LST 1126 1969 - 1970 The Final Years |
| After 25 years of continuous United States Navy service The USS Snohomish County - LST 1126 was sold for scrap metal to the Chin Ho Fa Steel & Iron Co. Ltd.,Taiwan, China During those 25 years, the ship was awarded eight battle stars and the many commendations or awards listed below. Combat Action Ribbon (17 November 1968) - China Service Medal (extended) American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) Vietnam Service Medal (8) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (7) Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| A “Highline Exchange” is a well known procedure used to transfer items, people, and materials from one ship to another while underway at sea. Most personnel have been a part or seen this operation at least once during their tour of duty. It’s a pretty exciting operation and one in which, when the weather is rough, is extremely tense as you must keep the lines constantly taught, but not so much as to break them and loose the object being transferred. The Snohomish County - LST 1126 did many of these during its 25 years of continuous Naval service.
March 22, 1969 the Snohomish County made a transfer that many sailors have never experienced and that will never occur again since there are no more LST’s in the US Navy. The transfer which took place was the first and maybe the last of its kind. The ship’s crew and commanding officer of the USS Snohomish County - LST 1126 actually traded ships, commanding officers, and crews with the USS Caroline County - LST 525. This was the first dual exchange of command and crew in the Amphibious Navy. The Snohomish County - LST 1126 continued on with it's new crew and commanding officer to serve another year in the Vietnam War, whereas the Caroline County LST 525 was brought back to the United States by the Snohomish County crew and commanding officer for decommissioning. Think about that exchange and how it would have affected you to pick up all of your gear and transport it to another ship after all you have accumulated through your tour. I know I left upon being discharged and had two sea bags of “stuff”. I took one load off one day and put it in my car’s trunk and brought the sea bag back for another load the next day. Of course we had just returned from a tour of the far east and everyone had stocked up on gifts … and stuff. |
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| Trading Spaces before it became popular on TV was held between the 1126 and 525 in 1969 when they exchanged ships and ship's crews. (Tic Tac, No trade back. The original crew of the 1126 went home. The 525 crew took the 1126 back to Vietnam) |
| During the latter part of 1970 an officer reported aboard just in time to learn the ship was going to be decommissioned. He spent only three months or so on the ship and was transferred to another ship. This former shipmate is still serving in the United States Navy. He's likely the only previous shipmate of the USS Snohomish County LST 1126 that is still serving in the regular Navy. He has climbed the ladder of succes during his long Naval career and is now VADM serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics. READ HIS BIO HERE |
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| It happened again. A mass transfer: Many crew members of the USS Snohomish County LST 1126 again exchanged places, this time with crew members of the USS Page County LST 1076. It was not a complete command and crew exchange, but close to it. |
| This photo was picked, not only as a great photo of the USS Snohomish County LST 1126, but also for this part of the website signifying the ship heading away .... homeward bound, at the end of it's historical 25 year journey. Sadly, it also represents the end of this faithful old warrior heading away to it's final demise at the hands of metal salvage crews in Taiwan. |
Putting the Snohomish County to bed Decommissioning 1970 By Poasa Fa'aita Howdy Shipmate, You did a marvelous job cataloging memories of the ole ship. I was just thinking about my old ships and decided to surf the net and what a wonderful surprise. Great job! I came aboard USS SNOHOMISH as a PN3 and inherited the billet of Office Supervisor; 1 YN3 and 1 SN. I was one of the crewmembers involved with change of command when LT J. P. Kelly took over until the decommissioning of USS SNOHOMISH. In fact, the order to decommission seemed to come overnight - preservation of the ship was put on high gear after official word was passed. It seemed as if the powers to be wanted the crew off immediately and to get rid of the ship. I didn't participate in the preservation of my spaces. Instead, I had to relocate my office to my house (Navy housing) at Fern Street (North Tipalao housing). All the service records, typewriters, duplicating & ditto machines, ship's sedan, 16mm movie projectors, control drugs were transferred to my house as the "Ship's Office". My wife couldn't believe it, but she knew the urgency and went along with everything. It was like a scene from an old war movie. Crewmembers were to catch the station taxi to my house to pick-up their orders and proceed to the Finance Office on base to get advance pay, etc. The Executive Officer gave me his permission to sign all orders "for him". In most cases, crewmembers were without orders so I had to stay on the telephone (my personal home phone) around 2200 til 0300 (Guam time) with the Detailers to get the authorization (TC numbers) so I could type up PCS orders. To make a long story short, after I received the authroizations to transfer the entire crew, I then contaced Navy ATCO for flights to Saigon, Vietnam. With the exception of very few, the majority of the crew were transferred to Saigon to pick up USS PAGE COUNTY (1026). After these major tasks, I had to return all the inventories to various departments in Naval Station Agana. COMPHIBRON THREE failed miserably to give a hand. I had to transfer automobiles to PWC Motor Pool, control drugs to Dispensary, movie projectors, typewriters and other office machines to DRMO Supply. Afterwards, I called for my PCS orders, arranged for my flight to Saigon and typed the last official Diary..."Decommissioned this date". My trip to Vietnam began with a holdover at Clark AFB due to conflict of PAGE schedule. I was informed that PAGE was not in Saigon but heading to Bangkok, Thailand for R&R. I asked for a draft to Bangkok and arrived their only to find PAGE not in company. I was assigned to the U. S. Army Attache, living in a villa where US miitary were staying. Two weeks later, I was summoned to fly out to Saigon where PAGE has been all the time. Once there, I initiated the original Diary for PAGE..."Commissioned this date" and report aboard with the entire crew I had transferred a couple of months earlier. I had to repeat this process again when I decommissioned USS PAGE COUNTY. It was hard work, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And I received the most benefits of learning my rating from it. I stayed in the Navy for over thirty years and retired from USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) as her Command Master Chief. Thanks for your efforts, Poasa Fa'aita (Thanks Chief for your descriptive writing and your long Naval service) ccb |
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| DECOMMISSIONING July 1, 1970 Guam |
| Commanding Officer LCDR J. P. Kelly (Photo furnished by Jerry Galler) |
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| SHIP'S CREW AT DECOMMISSIONING JULY 1, 1970 Guam (Photo furnish by Jerry Galler) |
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| Photo from NavSource.org Bow doors open, ramp down |
| Photo from NavSource.org (by Lloyd King) Taken from the USS Polk County preparing for highline transfer |
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| Decommissioning ceremony Guam 1970 The end of 25 years of service |
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| This is the USS San Antonio APD 17 The newest amphibious assualt ship. It has a rear disembarking area, more troops quarters, and helicopter landing area. |
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| Larry Townsend LST 1126 1969-1970 The Harley Hog he has looks ready for a show room. |
| Sierra Club Subic Bay PI (1969) |
| Below is a summary of the Snohomish County's travels and duties during the final year 1969- 1970 as compiled by the last commanding officer then Lt. John P. Kelly. This information fills in a lot of gaps on the history of the ship, especially in the final years. Lt. Kelly continued to serve in the United States Navy after leaving the Snohomish County, attaining the rank of Captain and commanding four other ships during his career of thirty three years. We are very fortunate indeed to have career personnel like him who served and continue to serve to make and keep the United States Navy as the greatest Navy in the world. This information is greatly appreciated and I know it will refresh many shipmates' memories. When it does, I hope they will in turn pass their stories on to me for publishing on the ship's website. It has been long enough now to tell those stories and not be afraid of losing that stripe or friendship. We can always leave out the names of the crewmen in the stories so only you and he will know. After reading the summary from Captain Kelly, I kinda wonder if the ship should not have had a sign on the quarterdeck like: "TRADER JOHN'S" |
| Late July 1969 Rides out Typhoon VIOLA
31 July Lt. Kelly reports aboard in Subic Bay, PT 8 August Change of Command: Lt. Kelly relieves Lt. Ryan 10 August On getting underway from Subic enroute Apra Harbor, Guam, the ship’s home port, port screw struck unsecured camel; returned to port due heavy shaft vibrations. 11 August Drydocked to replace screw and tail-shaft. On drydocking, discovered cracks in eight ballast and fuel tanks. Cracks attributed to Typhoon VIOLA storm damage. As ship was scheduled for restricted availability on return to Guam, only temporary repairs (doubler plate) made to bottom. 16 August Undocked 20 August Underway for Guam. While still at sea detail received message diverting ship to Danang, RVN. 22 August Held “swim call” in 1025 fathoms. Diverted to Cam Ranh Bay. 24 August Arrived Cam Ranh Bay. 25 August Loaded ammo for Quang Tn. Traded case of steaks for beat-up Army jeep. 26 August Underway for Cua Viet w. 874 tons of ammo and a jeep. 27 August Brief stop Danang for mail and personnel. 28 August Arrived Cua Viet, 4nm south of DMZ. NVN flag visible to north from channel. 29 August Returned to Danang for Danang / Cua Viet shuttle runs. 31 August Arrived Cua Viet. USO show and beer call. 1 September Arrived Danang; beached at Ferry Landing South. Night attack expected. Tropical storm DORIS warning. 2 September No night attack; TS DORIS passes to north. 4 September Delayed Danang due TS DORIS damage to Cua Viet. CO called on Commander, Amphibious Force, SEVENTH Fleet. 5 September Shifted to Danang Harbor anchorage due expected attack. 6 September Rocket attack blew ARVN ammo dump. Underway for Cua Viet. 7 September Offload Cua Viet; return Danang. 8 September USS NOXUBEE, an AOG, mined at Cua Viet. 10 September Arrived Cua Viet. Fr. Jake Laboon comes aboard and celebrates Catholic mass on helo deck. Mass interrupted,~explosive ordnance disposal on north shore. 11 September Underway for Hong Kong port visit. Five hours into transit, wiped line shaft bearing. No spare on board. Reversed course for Danang. 12 September Arrived Danang. MSTS LST 1069 provides the bearing. CO thanks Master with case of Old Granddad bourbon. 13 September Underway for Hong Kong with sea trials enroute. 16 September Arrive Hong Kong. 19-20 Sept. Ship’s Party at New Tokyo Bar. 22 September Depart Hong Kong for Guam. 24 September Transited San Bernardino Straits avoiding Typhoon ELSIE. Rendezvoused with USS GALLUP (PG 85) commanded by Lt. Dick Hayes. Refueled GALLUP and escorted her to Guam. 28 September Heavy weather. Passed through eye of Typhoon FLOSSIE. 3 October Arrived Guam. Commenced two month restricted availability including drydocking and hull repairs. 5 December Causeway marriage, Apra Harbor. Load SEABEE Civic Action Team. 9 December Underway from Guam enroute Caroline Islands. 12 December Arrived Truk lagoon; anchored south of Moen Island. 3 December Arrived Ponape; beached on former Japanese seaplane ramp. Experienced engine probleta Retracted on one shaft. 14 December Engine repairs completed at 0500. Cleared atoll at 0900 bound for Kusaie to drop off SEABEE Civic Action Team. 24 December Returned to Guam. 2 January 1970 Depart Guam enroute Yokosuka for refresher training. 9 January Arrived Yokosuka. 12 January Commenced Amphibious Refresher Training. 19 January Cancelled second week of PhibReffra to get week of badly needed upkeep. 26 January Commenced week of Interim Refresher Training. 30 January Loaded out for Sasebo. 6 February Arrived Sasebo with load of ammunition. Near collision enroute. 9 February Departed Sasebo with ammunition lift for Danang, with brief stop Subic enroute. February SH-3 medevac enroute Danang. (Later learned that on return to carrier the helo crashed and all the air crew were lost.) Mid February Commenced initial runway matting lift from Danang to Okinawa. Cargo shifted due improper loading and heavy weather in Bashi Channel. Diverted to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for offload/reload. 28 February Celebrated ship’s Silver Anniversary at sea enroute Okinawa. 11 March Retraction problem, Naha, Okinawa. Delayed one day. 12 March Enroute Danang for more airstrip matting (Operation KEYSTONE BLUE JAY) 22 March Departed Danang bound for Iwakuni. Rough weather with heavy pounding. Flooded peak tank. Late March Brief stop Buckner Bay, Okinawa for engine repairs. Easter services on board USS ELDORADO, flagship, Landing Ship Flotilla ONE. 2 April Arrived Iwakuni via Bungo Strait and Japanese Inland Sea 3 April Lt. Fink relieves Lt. Higgs as XO. 4 April Transit Shimonoseki Strait (between Honshu and Kyushu) at 16.5 knots! 6 April Arrived Sasebo for repairs including drydocking. Five of six 40mm mounts are out of commission. Repair personnel indicate mounts not repairable short of complete rewiring. 22 April Departed Sasebo enroute Guam. 6-7 May Surprise INSURV Inspection. Ship found “not fit for further service”. 1-30 June Decommissioning preparations. 1 July 1970 USS SNOHOMISH COUNTY decommissioned at U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility, Guam, MI. Footnote: In July 1970 the former crew of the SNOHOMISH COUNTY flew to Saigon in two segments and relieved the crew of the USS PAGE COUNTY (LST 1076). |
| USS SNOHOMISH COUNTY (LST 1126) The Final Year s |
| The Ship celebrated it's twenty five years of continuous service shortly before it was decommissioned. Here is a copy of the Ceremony Pamphlet |
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| John P. Kelly, Captain (USN Retired) wrote this summary of the ship's last year during which he was commanding officer. He describes the various situations in which the ship and crew were placed. He breaks the last year down into six chapters describing the ship's duties. |
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| I just received a message from a shipmate who served under Commanding Officer Kelly. He was shall I say "dismayed" that during an inspection held by the Captain, he was docked for his "patent leather shoes", and told they were unauthorized!!! I served under four different commanding officers and cannot recall having any personnel inspections, although there were several inspections of the ship's quarters. (ccb) |
| I was part of the Air Force Radar unit at Dong Ha that got blown away by Typhoon Doris Aug 31-Sep 2 1969. After hanging around a week or so to salvage whatever we could we caught [I believe] an LST down the Cua Viet to the South China Sea -- still rocking and rolling from Doris -- and on down to Da Nang harbor. Man, I have never been so sick in my life. I tried the bridge -- really bad; then the galley -- almost puked with every breath; then one of the guys' bunk -- no help, couldn't turn on my side and banged my head when I tried to raise up; and finally down in the hole next to a pile of tarps that smelled like diesel fuel. Believe it or not, the last was about as good as it got.
In a [particularly long] moment of weakness I gave my blue baseball cap, stitched with our squadron info (Detachment 1, 620th TCS - call sign "Waterboy") and with the squadron patch on the front, to one of the Navy guys. Can anyone remember which ship that was and where I can find some info on it's RVN mission? Also, I want my cap back... Howard "Woody" Woodard woodard@msn.com Redmond, WA 98053 |
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Notice the quality workmanship and construction grade material the Air Force used in constructing their workplaces. Doesn't that look like some of the materials and scrap the LST 1126 delivered to Taiwan every now and then? (ccbenton) |
| Howard "Woody" Woodard USAF - Vietnam 1969 |
| ALERT NOTICE BELOW |
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Here's a familiar site around Hong kong and the other ports of the Far East. They are called Water Taxis and are a convienent mode of getting to and from shore when the ship's Liberty Boat was not running. This photo was taken by Don Ragsdale from the deck of DD-786 on which he served. It was taken in January 1969. The LST 1126 (Snohomish County) is in the far background moored to a bouy or two as usual. The docks and piers were for larger ships. Smaller ships hung out in the bay and used Liberty Boats or Water Taxis to get ashore for liberty. When I was there in 1954 it was still under the control of Great Brittian as a colony. Much has changed now and actually had changed by the time this photo was taken. The skyline looks somewhat different from what I recall, and the traffic seen now is much more modern. Those Water Taxis were propelled by what was called "one lung" engines and were not always covered ones as the one in the photo. (Thanks for the photo, Don) ccb |