USS Wood County LST 1178
Here is the Wood County' plaque from Dave
Miller
The Wood County was one of
the ships serving in the Dominican Republic crisis and received
the Presidential Unit Citation.
CITATION:
For exceptionally meritorious
service from 26 through 30 April 1965 in connection with the Dominican
Republic crisis. Arriving off the coast of Santo Domingo on 26
April 1965, ships and Marines of Amphibious Squadron TEN commenced
the mass embarkation and evacuation of over 1,000 United States
civilian nationals and other refugees, among whom were large numbers
of women and children from the Dominican Republic. As the situation
on shore worsened, Commander Joint Task Force-122 landed combat
Marines of the 6th Marine Expeditionary Unit to guarantee the
safety of evacuees and for the protection of U.S. and foreign
property. This major amphibious operation, introducing the first
combat troops into the Dominican Republic, was smoothly conducted
and all objectives achieved with minimal loss of life. The fact
that the entire evacuation and troop landing operations were successfully
conducted in the face of unusual conditions and obstacles, is
a tribute to the dedication of all personnel involved and was
in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service.
All personnel attached to
and serving on board any of the above designated units during
the period 26 through 30 April 1965 are here by authorized to
wear the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
Secretary of the Navy
Here is a picture sent by Bob Kahler of the
Wood County in the James River Reserve Fleet.
Short
History
Wood
County (LST-1178) (q.v.) was named after counties in Ohio, Texas,
West Virginia, and Wisconsin. She was laid down on I October 1956
at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Shipbuilding Co.; launched on
14 December 1957; sponsored by Miss Margaret Ackerman; and commissioned
on 5 August 1959, Lt. Comdr. Maxton M. Midgert in command.
Following commissioning, Wood County was assigned to the Amphibious
Force, Atlantic Fleet. For 13 years, the tank landing ship alternated
between operations on the east coast of the United States and
deployments to the Caribbean and Mediterranean for participation
in large scale amphibious training exercises. On 1 May 1972, Wood
County was decommissioned and assigned to the National Defense
Reserve Fleet at James River, Va.