USS Clarion River (LSM(R)-409) was an LSM(R)-401-class medium-type landing ship (LSM) built for the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Named for the Clarion River

Clarion River

The Clarion River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately 110 mi long, in west central Pennsylvania in the United States...

 in west central Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

World War II

The ship was originally laid down on 26 January 1945 at the Charleston Navy Yard. Launched on 18 February 1945 and commissioned as USS LSM(R)-409 on 16 May 1945 with Lieutenant (junior grade) Herbert H. Boltin, USNR, in command.

She was decommissioned on 6 February 1947 at San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Korean War

LSM(R)-409 was recommissioned on 5 October 1950 for Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

 service. She was assigned to LSMR Squadron Five and participated in the following campaigns:

• Blockade of Wonsan (1951–1953)
• Communist China Spring Offensive (23 May–6 June 1951)
• UN Summer-Fall Offensive (15–30 July 1951 and 26 August–21 September 1951)
• Third Korean Winter (16–30 April 1953)
• Korean Summer-Fall (1 May–20 July 1953)

During her Korean War service, enemy aircraft attacked her in 1953, but did not damage her.
Renamed USS Clarion River (LSM(R)-409) on 1 October 1955, the ship was again decommissioned on 26 October of that year at Astoria, Oregon

Astoria, Oregon

Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...

 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group.

Vietnam

Clarion River was recommissioned on 18 September 1965 at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard

San Francisco Naval Shipyard

The San Francisco Naval Shipyard was a United States Navy shipyard in San Francisco, California, located on of waterfront at Hunters Point in the southeast corner of the city...

, Hunters Point

Hunters Point

Hunters Point refers to the following places:*Bayview-Hunters Point, San Francisco**Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, another name for the San Francisco Naval Shipyard*Hunters Point, Queens, New York City**Hunterspoint Avenue...

. Reclassified as an "Inshore Fire Support Ship" USS Clarion River (LFR-409) on 1 January 1969, she participated in the following campaigns:

• Vietnamese Counteroffensive (26 May–4 June 1966 and 13–30 June 1966)
• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II (1–2 July, 13 July–4 August, 13–29 October, 12–23 November 1966 and 30 January–13 March 1967)
• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III (7 June–6 July, 23 July–17 August, and 26 October–20 November 1967 and 26 December 1967–18 January 1968)
• Tet Counteroffensive (3–25 February 1968)
• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V (8 July–13 August and 24 August–23 September 1968)
• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI (3 November–7 December 1968)
• Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 February–8 June 1969)
• Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 June–31 October 1969)
• Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 (1 November 1969–30 April 1970)

Decommissioned for the last time on 8 May 1970 at Yokosuka, Japan and struck from the Naval Vessel Register

Naval Vessel Register

The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...

 (date unknown), she was sold for scrap in November 1970 to the Nissho-Iwai American Corporation of Sasebo, Japan.

Awards

Clarion River earned four battle stars for Korean War service and nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

External links

• ussclarionriver.wordpress.com/ The USS Clarion River LSMR - 409 NEW SITE LOCATION