Reunion Information
Sep 18 - Sep 22, 2024: USS Iwo Jima Class Association  More Details
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Unit Details

Strength
Amphibious Assault Ship
Type
Surface Vessel
 
Year
1965 - 1995
 

Description



































USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
, an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship, was laid down on 15 June 1964 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 31 July 1965; sponsored by Mrs. Jane Cates, the wife of General Clifton B. Cates, former Commandant of the Marine Corps; and commissioned on 6 August 1966 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Capt. Henry Suerstedt, Jr., in command. Tripoli is the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Battle of Derne in 1805. It was the decisive victory of a mercenary army led by a detachment of United States Marines and soldiers against the forces of Tripoli during the First Barbary War. It was the first recorded land battle of the United States fought overseas.
 

Following three months fitting out at Philadelphia, the amphibious assault ship put to sea on 6 November 1966, bound for the west coast. She transited the Panama Canal at mid-month and arrived at her home port, San Diego, on 22 November 1966. Final acceptance trials, shakedown training, and post-shakedown availability at Long Beach occupied the warship until she embarked Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 463, elements of Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 6, and some members of the staff of the Commander, Amphibious Squadron (ComPhibRon) B on 1 May 1967 and departed San Diego, bound for the western Pacific.

In August 2016 the US Maritime Administration designated her for disposal. In March 2015, the ship was towed back through the Panama Canal and since April 2015 has been stored with the Beaumont Reserve Fleet.
 

General Characteristics: Awarded: December 10, 1962
Keel laid: June 15, 1964
Launched: July 31, 1965
Commissioned: August 6, 1966
Decommissioned: September 15, 1995
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, West Bank, Pascagoula, Miss.
Propulsion system: Two boilers, one geared steam turbines, one shaft, 22,000 total shaft horsepower
Propellers: one
Length: 603, 65 feet (184 meters)
Beam: 104 feet (31.7 meters)
Draft: 25,9 feet (7.9 meters)
Aircraft elevators: two
Displacement: approx. 19,500 tons full load
Speed: 23 knots
Aircraft: 20
Armament: two
Crew: 80 officers, 638 enlisted, 1,750 Marine Detachment


Notable Persons
None
 
Reports To
Ships At Sea
 
Active Reporting Unit
None
 
Inactive Reporting Unit
None
 
181 Members Who Served in This Unit


 

  • Adwell, Bob, MGySgt, (1975-Present)
  • Aiels, Tom, Cpl, (1982-1986)
  • Alford, David, Sgt, (1980-1991)
  • Arnold, Chester `, WO, (1973-1981)
  • Arreola, Frank, Sgt, (1976-1983)
  • Bayes, Luke, Cpl, (1993-1995)
  • Benecke, Joseph, Cpl, (1981-1985)
  • Bentle, John, GySgt, (1977-1998)
  • Betuk, George, Cpl, (1971-1973)
  • Biedenbender, George, CWO5, (1973-1996)
  • Bigler, Randy, Sgt, (1973-1977)
  • Bonet, David L., MSgt, (1966-1986)
  • Brayton, Kenneth, Cpl, (1971-1975)
  • Brennan, Edward, Cpl, (1972-1974)
  • Brown, Bruce, Sgt, (1977-1994)
  • Bunch, Jason, 1stSgt, (1991-2011)
  • Burnham, James, Cpl, (1976-1980)
  • Byrne, Jack, Cpl, (1986-1994)
  • Cairncross, John, Sgt, (1972-1979)
  • Campos, Raul, Cpl, (1990-1995)
  • Carlstrom, Mark, MSgt, (1983-2005)
  • Carthell, Ed, Sgt, (1970-1979)
  • Cheek, Laron, Cpl, (1987-1993)
  • Chile, Scott, Sgt, (1985-1993)
  • Choate, Joseph, HMC, (1959-1979)
  • Coaxum, Joe, Cpl, (1988-1995)
  • Corbitt, Andre, Cpl, (1988-1992)
  • Cueva, Manuel, SSgt, (1986-1995)
  • Dane, Wade, Cpl, (1979-1983)
  • Dodson, Scott E (ED), SSgt, (1964-1977)
  • Dunaway, Bradley, Sgt, (1974-1979)
  • Dunham, Douglas, MGySgt, (1973-1995)
 
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Battle/Operations History Detail
 
Description
9 - 22 July 1968; BLT 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines - 9th MAB in Thua Thien Province. USS Vancouver began preparations for the amphibious operation, Eager Yankee. In the predawn of 9 July, destroyers Benner (DD-807) and O'Brien (DD-725) shattered the silence and sporadically lighted the darkness with gunfire. At the conclusion of the prelanding bombardment, Vancouver, as primary control ship for the boat phase of the assault, began shuttling marines ashore some 10 miles east of Phu Bai. The first elements of BLT 2/7 went ashore in LVT's and began establishing defensive positions and clearing landing zones for the airborne phase of the operation. The ship remained in the area providing logistics support for the marines as they drove northwest toward a known Viet Cong haven.

The 2/7 Marines lost four men on 14 July 1968, two each from Golf and Hotel Companies, during Operation Eager Yankee in the Phu Tho District, Thua Thien Province. They were

G Company:
Cpl Gregory R. Rayfield, St Louis, MO (DoW)
Pfc Wayne J. Vessell, Senoia, GA

H Company:
SSgt Gerald A. McCall, Atlantic City, NJ (Silver Star)
LCpl Steven J. Scott, New Baltimore, MI

While the 2/7 After Action Report for Operation Eager Yankee does not detail the circumstances of Staff Sergeant McCall's death, available information indicates that his radioman, LCpl Scott was wounded by a mine and that SSgt McCall was fatally shot while trying to assist LCpl Scott.
 
BattleType
Operation
Country
Vietnam
 
Parent
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (1968)
CreatedBy
Clendennen, Jimmy, LCpl, (1967-1970)
 
Start Month
7
End Month
7
 
Start Year
1968
End Year
1968
 

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