| From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. V (1979), pp. 200
Counties in Iowa and Virginia. (LST-1076: dp. 4,080; l. 328'; b. 50'; dr. 14'1"; s. 11.6 k.; cpl. 119, trp. 147; a. 8 40 mm.; cl. LST-611) LST-1076 was laid down 16 March 1945 by Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Mass., launched 14 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Lillian J. Ostler, and commissioned 1 May 1945, Lt. Grover L. Rawlings, USNR, in command. After shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, LST-1076 embarked troops in New York and sailed, 14 June 1945, for Pearl Harbor. She arrived Pearl Harbor on 19 July and began several weeks of rigorous training in the Hawaiian operating areas. LST-1076 stood out from Pearl Harbor on 29 August loaded with occupation troops bound for Sasebo, Japan. She disembarked her passengers on 22 September and by 17 October, she was returning to the United States with war veterans. She arrived at San Diego 11 December and shortly thereafter went into overhaul. LST-1076 was sent to Vancouver, Wash., in April of 1946 for inactivation, and decommissioned 13 June to be assigned to the Columbia Group of the U.S. Pacific Reserve Fleet. Named Page County 1 July 1955, the LST remained at Astoria, Oregon on the Columbia River until July 1960, when she was towed to San Diego for modernization and reactivation. Page County was recommissioned 28 November 1960, and following shakedown carried out local operations off the coast of Southern California through 1961. On 3 January 1962, Page County sailed for Pearl Harbor to provide logistic support for the U.S. Army. Page County operated within the Hawaiian Islands in support of the Army through January and shifted to operational control of Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier on 1 February, for operations in the southern Mid-Pacific. On 1 April she was assigned to Joint Task Force 8 in support of nuclear tests being conducted by the U.S. Government. She transported civilian construction crews and their equipment to islands such as Palmyra, Malden, Penrhyn, Washington, Fanning, and Christmas. She completed these assignments 8 August and returned to San Diego on the 20th. On 27 October Page County was called on to participate in the Cuban Crisis quarantine. She transited the Panama Canal on 8 November and reached Vieques, Puerto Rico on the 16th. After shuttling troops between Roosevelt Roads and Vieques, she was detached on 1 December to return to San Diego. On 16 March 1963 Page County put into San Francisco to undergo an extensive MK II Fram overhaul which was completed in July. She returned to San Diego on 5 August and was assigned to coastal operations. Between 18 January and 16 February 1965, she participated in operation "Silver Lance," one of the largest Navy-Marine Corps training exercises ever held in peacetime. Deteriorating conditions in Vietnam caused her immediate departure 17 February, for Pearl Harbor, to transport elements of Marine Air Group 13 to Okinawa. She returned to San Diego on 7 May. Page County deployed to Adak, Alaska from 6 July to 21 October, returning to San Diego for coastal operations until 19 July 1966, when she prepared for deployment to Vietnam. Operating principally between Chu Lai and Da Nang, she supported the struggle against Communist aggression in South Vietnam until returning to the United States in December. Resuming local operations, Page County provided services to MinPac in evaluating the capabilities of LST's for mine sweeping and to Pacific Fleet Command for training exercises and administrative lifts for Hawaiian based Army and Marine Corps personnel. Early 1968 found Page County participating in EastPac exercises, training Camp Pendleton Marines and Seabees from Port Hueneme. During the spring she again joined the 7th Fleet for operations in Southeast Asia. From 11 September through 6 November, she operated out of Da Nang and returned to San Diego on 24 December, via Hong Kong, Yokosuka, and Pearl Harbor. After operations on the West Coast, Page County returned to the Western Pacific in the autumn and served in the 7th Fleet into 1970. |
| History of the USS Page County LST 1076 The Page County also had a large crew swap with the Snohomish County LST 1126 |
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This is a copy of an E-mail I received from a former shipmate of the USS Page County. I have not checked out this information for accuracy, but it appears to be in line with the information I have of the History of the USS Snohomish County. Anyone who has anything to add I would be glad to add to "The Rest of the Story" (CC Benton LST 1126) Now here is rest of the story from the Page County's point of view. I am trying to complete the gaps in the history that we have. LT Raymond W. Addicott was the CO of the USS Madera County LST-905 He brought his entire crew to the Page County which had been towed to Guam the 23rd of October 1969 arriving 4th of December 1969 for recommissioning, his task was to take the USS Page County to Vietnam and turn the ship and its crew over to LT Harold E. Tittle which he did. LT Harold E. Tittle took over Command of the USS Page County from LT Raymond W. Addicott while the crew of the USS Madera County remained. On July the first 1970 the U. S. Navy turned the USS Snohomish County LST-1126 over to the PI Government Two to three weeks in advance LTJG Gerald M. Ruona left the USS Snohomish County and went to the USS PAGE County to check out the ship and found it in good condition. The entire ship's company was to be transferred to the USS Page County and the crew under LT Harold E. Tittle were to be sent to other duty stations. LTCD John P. Kelly and his crew took over the USS Page County in Vietnam and stayed there for another year then went to the states for decommissioning and the transfer of the USS Page County LST-1076 to the Greek Government. The USS Page County is there today. Check out this web site in order to see what is happening with her today. John S. Burger ETN3 1965-1967 |
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| USS PAGE COUNTY LST 1076 WEBSITE |