USS ''LST-661'' was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in commission from 1944 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning

''LST-661'' was laid down on 9 January 1944 at Ambridge,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, by the

American Bridge Company The American Bridge Company is a heavy/civil construction firm that specializes in building and renovating bridges and other large, complex structures. Founded in 1900, the company is headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pitt ...

. She was launched on 30 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. J. H. Elder, and commissioned on 28 April 1944.

Service history

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, ''LST-661'' was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations and participated in the capture and occupation of the southern

Palau Islands Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

in September and October 1944. Following the war, she performed occupation duty in the

Far East The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons. The ter ...

until early April 1946, when she returned to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Decommissioning and disposal

''LST-661'' was decommissioned on 29 August 1946. She was used as a target on 14 May 1948 at Enewetak Atoll in the

Operation Sandstone Operation Sandstone was a series of nuclear weapon tests in 1948. It was the third series of American tests, following Trinity in 1945 and Crossroads in 1946, and preceding Ranger. Like the Crossroads tests, the Sandstone tests were carried ou ...

atomic bomb test series. On 25 July 1948, she was sunk because of her unsalvageable (and probably

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is consi ...

) condition. ''LST-661'' was stricken from the

Navy List A Navy Directory, formerly the Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval autho ...

on 13 September 1948.

Honors and awards

''LST-661'' earned one

battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...

for World War II service.

Reference to ''LST-661'' in ''With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa''

In his memoir '' With the Old Breed at Pelelieu and Okinawa'', Eugene B. Sledge expresses his gratitude to the crew of ''LST-661''. In Chapter Four, "Assault into Hell", in the section titled "Death Patrol", he writes: :''During one halt along a sandy road in the woods, we heard the words "hot chow" passed. :''"The hell you say," someone said in disbelief.'' :''"Straight dope; pork chops."'' :''We couldn't believe it, but it was true. We filed past a cylindrical metal container, and each of us received a hot, delicious pork chop. The chow had been sent ashore for Company K by the crew of ''LST-661''. I vowed if the chance ever came I would express my thanks to those sailors for that chow.'' A footnote by the author reads, "I fulfilled that vow in July 1945 after the battle for Okinawa ended."Sledge.

Notes

References

* *Sledge, Eugene B. ''With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. {{DEFAULTSORT:LST-0661 LST-542-class tank landing ships World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Ships built in Ambridge, Pennsylvania 1944 ships Ships sunk as targets Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean Ships involved in Operation Crossroads Maritime incidents in 1946 Maritime incidents in 1948