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USS Terrell County (LST-1157)
Encyclopedia
USS Terrell County (LST-1157), originally USS LST-1157, was a built for the United States Navy
in 1952. Named for Terrell County
, Texas
, and Terrell County
, Georgia
, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. She was later lent to Greece
and subsequently sold to Greece, being renamed HNS Oinoussai (L-104) in Greek service.
, Maine
, by Bath Iron Works
and launched on 6 December 1952, sponsored by Mrs. John H. Spiller. She was commissioned
on 14 March 1953 with Lieutenant Commander
L. I. Reynolds in command.
Following shakedown
training and operations out of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
at Virginia Beach
, Virginia
, LST-1157 departed Morehead City
, North Carolina
, on 25 September 1953 with a full load of United States Marines and amphibious vehicle
s for transfer to the United States Pacific Fleet
and arrived in San Diego
, California
, on 25 October 1953.
Assigned to Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, LST-1157 operated out of San Diego into February 1954 before getting underway for the Central Pacific
. She soon took part in moving natives from northern islands in the Marshall Islands
to new homes in southern islands in May and June 1954. This lift involved the shipment of lumber
for new homes, school
s, and churches, as well as of the personal belongings and livestock
of the natives. She returning to a routine of local operations on the United States West Coast upon arrival at Port Chicago
, California, on 2 July 1954.
LST-1157 was renamed USS Terrell County (LST-1157) on 1 July 1955.
Terrell County departed the U.S. West Coast on 9 September 1955 for her first Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. She operated out of ports in Okinawa and Japan
before returning to the U.S. West Coast and resuming local operations.
Terrell Countys second Western Pacific deployment commenced on 13 August 1957. In the succeeding months, she steamed a total of 25,600 nautical miles (47,411 kilometers), conducted three amphibious landing exercises and four troop lifts, and transported 500 vehicle
s and 1,500 men in five beachings and nine "marriages" to landing causeway
sections. She also served as flagship
for Landing Ship Squadron One.
The sudden flare-up of tension halfway around the world in Lebanon
in 1958 temporarily interrupted Terrell Countys routine. She sailed for Pearl Harbor
and conducted emergency exercises in the Hawaii
an area before the Middle East
ern crisis abated.
Departing the U.S. West Coast on 15 April 1959, Terrell County headed across the Pacific Ocean
for her third Western Pacific deployment. She subsequently returned to San Diego in November and began an extensive overhaul.
On 16 June 1960, Terrell County departed the U.S. west Coast for her fourth Western Pacific cruise. In July, 1960 her permanent home port was changed from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan
. In the Far East
, Terrell County participated in a wide variety of operations with beachings and landings of embarked United States Marines and their equipment. Occasionally, maneuvers with warships of other Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
(SEATO) member countries took place in locales ranging from Thailand
to South Korea
and from Borneo
to the Philippine Islands. Liberties at Hong Kong
and Tokyo
brightened a sometimes uneventful deployment while typhoon evasions, too, were common occurrences.
ese torpedo boat
s reportedly attacked the destroyer
s and in the Gulf of Tonkin
, off Vietnam
. Terrell County proceeded to Iwakuni, Japan where she remained on alert until 20 August 1964, when she headed for Yokosuka and extended upkeep. Next, local operations in Japanese and Korean waters occupied Terrell County through the end of 1964. Underway training began the ship's new year in 1965 and lasted through February and into March 1965.
On 12 March 1965 Terrell County departed the Ryūkyū Islands
, bound for South Vietnam
. She arrived at Danang four days later, unloaded embarked men and cargo, and then returned to Yokosuka for major overhaul. The ship returned to Vietnamese waters following the refit and transported Marine Air Control Squadron 9 to the American base at Chu Lai
, South Vietnam, before returning to Japanese waters. Operational commitments subsequently overrode refresher training out of Yokosuka in July, forcing the ship to embark Naval Beach Group 1. Dispatched to Okinawa on 1 August 1965, Terrell County evaded a typhoon en route and made port to load Regimental Landing Team 7 before sailing on the 9 August 1965 for Chu Lai. Remaining at that American base from 15 August to 17 August, the ship evaded two typhoons en route back to Japanese waters before she reached Yokosuka on 25 August.
Following further refresher training and an upkeep period, Terrell County got underway for South Korea on 21 October 1965 and arrived at Pusan, South Korea, on 23 October 1965. She embarked elements of the Republic of Korea's "Tiger" Division
, marking the first time that a Korea
n expeditionary force
had been sent abroad in nearly 1,000 years. Departing Pusan on 25 October 1965, Terrell County arrived at Qi Nhon, South Vietnam, on 2 November 1965 and debarked the South Korean troops.
Terrell County operated in support of "Operation Blue Marlin" from 4 to 17 November 1965; included in this deployment was a landing near Chu Lai and a trip to Danang, South Vietnam, with support equipment on board. Once she completed this assignment, she received orders to proceed to Nha Trang
and thence to Cam Ranh Bay
for further operations. On 21 November she embarked South Korean marines and United States Army
support units for transport to Tuy Hoa
. Soon after reaching Tuy Hoa, Terrell County, with her troops still embarked, broached in the heavy surf and went aground. On 24 November the fleet tugs
and succeeded in pulling Terrell County off the beach. Subsequently patched and pumped dry, she got underway on 2 December 1965, under tow for Yokosuka, where permanent repairs could be made to her damaged hull.
The restoration work was complete on 22 February 1966, and the ship got underway for Naha, Okinawa
. She embarked men and equipment of the Army's 1st Engineering Battalion and transported them to Vietnam. She completed the task on 7 March and then made another transport run from 14 March 1966 to 26 March 1966, carrying American cavalry
men from Naha to Saigon, South Vietnam.
After coastal operations off Vietnam from 27 March to 5 May, Terrell County retired to Japan on one shaft, since her starboard shaft had ceased functioning. On 13 May, as she crept along toward Yokosuka, her lookout
s sighted the Soviet merchant ship Makhachala two points abaft the starboard beam
and closing. Both ships continued steady on their courses, as Terrell County assumed that the heavily-laden Soviet ship would stay clear. Finally, both ships were forced to maneuver radically to avert a collision.
Shaft troubles continued to plague the landing ship but did not interfere with the completion of her transport and cargo
missions. She continued these duties into the autumn
of 1966. In October 1966, Terrell County sailed to Subic Bay
to serve as the United States
' representative at the 22nd annual Leyte Gulf
celebration, which commemorated the American landings of 1944 supported by an earlier breed of LST
s.
Subsequently completing a Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection (the first ship in her squadron
to do so), Terrell County conducted two more transport lifts—both to Chu Lai, Vietnam—before rounding out the year 1966 by joining Task Unit 76.0.7 as part of the Danang-Chu Lai shuttle. The ship remained with Task Unit 76.0.7 until 18 January 1967, when she sailed for Okinawa. She proceeded from there to her home port, Yokosuka. Transport operations to Okinawa, intermingled with type and refresher training exercises, continued through the spring
of 1967.
On 9 July Terrell County relieved landing ship tank as part of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, TG 76.5, then engaged in the midst of Operations "Beaver Track" and "Buffalo
". Given the mission of "sea-trailer" or contingency logistics, she carried ammunition, medical supplies, and vehicles assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, the Marine units bearing the brunt of the fighting ashore. For two months, Terrell County supported operations in Quang Tri
province, just south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ
), and conducted a series of landings in rapid succession: "Bear Chain", "Kangaroo Kick", and "Belt Drive", before heading for Hong Kong
on 19 September 1967.
Following visits to Okinawa and Subic Bay, Terrell County loaded ammunition and causeway
sections and departed Yokosuka on 1 March 1968, bound for Vietnam. However, while steaming in company with two of her sister ship
s, tank landing ships and , Terrell County lost two causeways which were torn loose by heavy seas. Returning to Yokosuka, Terrell County obtained replacement sections and embarked Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 before getting underway again and rejoining Washoe County and Westchester County en route to South Vietnam. Arriving at Danang on 13 March, she delivered her causeways and proceeded to Tien Sha to unload her ammunition
and to take on the gear necessary for her forthcoming operations.
Joining the Amphibious Ready Group once again, Terrell County operated off My Thuy, South Vietnam, from 15 March to 12 April 1968 before retiring to Subic Bay. She rendezvoused with the off Vietnam on 29 April 1968 for operations on station in area "Alice". Subsequently sailing for Hong Kong on 12 May for a five-day visit, Terrell County headed for Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to deliver cargo from Danang before moving to Yokosuka for an overhaul which lasted through the summer
of 1968. Training and drills occupied the ship well into the autumn of 1968 before she proceeded back to Vietnam.
From 1 to 7 December 1968, Terrell County conducted general drills and gunnery exercises before beaching at Vung Tau
to load ammunition. On 10 December 1968, she relieved Washoe County as support LST for Task Force 115 on "Operation Market Time
", the interdiction operation attempting to interrupt North Vietnamese logistics operations in South Vietnamese coastal waters.
On 1 January 1969 Terrell County, still supporting Operation Market Time, was assigned additional duty as support ship for the fast Fast Patrol Craft
(PCF) boats—which were aptly nicknamed "swift boats" -- engaged in riverine operations off the lower Ca Mau Peninsula
. Three days after undertaking this duty, the LST launched her LCVP
s to participate in an assault north of Song Ong Doc, in conjunction with PCFs and Song Ong Due regional forces. When Viet Cong gunners opened fire on the allied force, Terrell County returned the fire, killing five Viet Cong soldiers and assisting in the successful withdrawal of the assault forces.
Terrell County then participated in other operations against the Viet Cong, firing on their positions along the banks of the Song Bp De River and the Duong Keo River, coordinating PCFs, aircraft, and ships' batteries in firing on Viet Cong concentrations and staging areas. As a result of these operations, Viet Cong extortion from local South Vietnamese forester
s and fishermen
in the lower Ca Mau peninsula was substantially, albeit temporarily, curtailed. Relieved as "Market Time" support LST, Terrell County got underway on 5 February 1969 for the Philippines
and arrived at Subic Bay on 11 February 1969.
Training and local operations in Japanese, Okinawan, and Philippine waters preceded yet another Vietnam deployment which commenced upon Terrell County's arrival at Vung Tau on 8 May 1969. The next day, she relieved USS WestChester County and found that the tempo of operations in the lower Ca Mau peninsula had increased. With 50 men of the Mobile Strike Force embarked, as well as a U.S. Army scout helicopter
and a U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team
(UDT) detachment, Terrell County provided support for multifaceted operations designed to destroy Viet Cong factories, training and supply camps, and extortion stations. She remained on station in the Ca Mau region until 25 June.
A visit to Hong Kong from 8 July to 24 July preceded Terrell Countys sailing for Yokosuka and upkeep. The ship subsequently carried causeways to Danang, Vietnam before resuming duties as support LST for continued interdiction and pacification operations at her old haunt, Ca Mau.
From 10 October to 25 November 1969, Terrell County supported "Operation Seafloat". With an embarked helicopter detachment, she undertook refueling and rearming of helicopters, and provided ammunition and services for PCFs, SEAL
teams, and troops. She also undertook small boat and PCF maintenance, as well as providing numerous personal services—laundry and small stores, to name but two. During this period, Terrell County established regular mail deliveries to off-shore units by helicopter, the first such services provided in the Ca Mau vicinity. On 15 October she fired a gunfire-support mission against Viet Cong vessels.
On 25 November 1969, tank landing ship came alongside, and Terrell County entrusted her "Seafloat" support duties to Vernon County before sailing for Danang. Loading troops and equipment on 30 November 1969, she got underway on 1 December 1969 to neutralize a threatened mortar attack before returning and refueling from .
Terrell County then returned again to Vung Tau, relieving tank landing ship USS Washoe County as "Seafloat" support vessel, providing fuel, ammunition, and communications support for a brood of smaller craft. She also assisted the landing craft
repair ship by receiving Krishnas stores from provision ships and delivering them, and by also serving as a platform upon which Krishnas mail and spare parts could be helicoptered in. Terrell County also provided repair and maintenance services for PCFs and smaller craft, such as PCRs. She remained at this duty through the spring of 1970.
When American forces invaded Cambodia
in the spring of 1970, Terrell County operated as "contingency LST" from 17 to 19 May 1970. She then proceeded to Danang to pick up equipment and a "Seabee
" causeway section for transport to Yokosuka. Soon after reaching Yokosuka, she commenced an upkeep period which lasted until 1 August 1970. A trip to Hong Kong and a final deployment to Vietnam rounded out Terrell Countys stay in the Far East.
On 1 October 1970 the Panama
-registered freighter
lost all power and wallowed in heavy seas. Terrell County and Washoe County went to the ship's assistance, and Terrell County passed a towline to Tung Yang. By midafternoon on 2 October 1970, Tung Yang rode at the end of the towline but, late the next day, the tow parted, and Tung Yang was once again adrift. The rescue and salvage ship
, also in the area, soon retrieved the tow, and thus allowed Terrell County to proceed to Chu Lai. After loading U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy vehicles, Terrell County departed Chu Lai on 6 October 1970 for Subic Bay. Arriving there on 8 October 1970, she took on supplies and got underway on 9 October 1970 in company with her sister ship Washoe County and three Military Sealift Command
ships. The two LSTs provided support services for these craft during the long voyage to the U.S. West Coast.
The little convoy
arrived at San Diego on 11 November 1970. After off-loading her cargo on 13 November 1970, Terrell County proceeded to San Francisco, California, for four days liberty before continuing northward. She reached Bremerton
, Washington, on 24 November 1970 and was placed in "in commission, in reserve" status. Her inactivation work lasted into the new year.
at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
at Bremerton and placed in the Reserve Fleet
there. She was berthed at the Pier "D" Inactive Ship Facility at Bremerton.
Transferred, on loan, to Greece
under the Security Assistance Program, she was renamed Oinoussai (L104) in Hellenic Navy
service and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on 1 November 1976.
Sold outright to Greece in March 1977, Oinoussai was decommissioned by the Greek Navy on 20 March 2003.
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...
in 1952. Named for Terrell County
Terrell County, Texas
Terrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 1,081. Its county seat is Sanderson. The county was named for Alexander W. Terrell, a Texas state senator...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Terrell County
Terrell County, Georgia
Terrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 United States Census reported the county's population at 10,970. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,260...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. She was later lent to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and subsequently sold to Greece, being renamed HNS Oinoussai (L-104) in Greek service.
Early career
USS LST-1157 was laid down on 3 March 1952 at BathBath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, by Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
and launched on 6 December 1952, sponsored by Mrs. John H. Spiller. She was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 14 March 1953 with Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
L. I. Reynolds in command.
Following shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
training and operations out of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
The Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The base comprises four locations in three states, including almost 12,000 acres of real estate. Its Little Creek location in Virginia Beach, Virginia totals...
at Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, LST-1157 departed Morehead City
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, on 25 September 1953 with a full load of United States Marines and amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
s for transfer to the United States Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
and arrived in San Diego
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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on 25 October 1953.
Assigned to Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, LST-1157 operated out of San Diego into February 1954 before getting underway for the Central Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. She soon took part in moving natives from northern islands in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
to new homes in southern islands in May and June 1954. This lift involved the shipment of lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
for new homes, school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s, and churches, as well as of the personal belongings and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
of the natives. She returning to a routine of local operations on the United States West Coast upon arrival at Port Chicago
Port Chicago, California
Port Chicago was a town on the southern banks of Suisun Bay, in Contra Costa County, California. It was located east-northeast of Martinez, at an elevation of 13 feet...
, California, on 2 July 1954.
LST-1157 was renamed USS Terrell County (LST-1157) on 1 July 1955.
Terrell County departed the U.S. West Coast on 9 September 1955 for her first Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. She operated out of ports in Okinawa and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
before returning to the U.S. West Coast and resuming local operations.
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s and 1,500 men in five beachings and nine "marriages" to landing causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
sections. She also served as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for Landing Ship Squadron One.
The sudden flare-up of tension halfway around the world in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1958 temporarily interrupted Terrell Countys routine. She sailed for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
and conducted emergency exercises in the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an area before the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern crisis abated.
Departing the U.S. West Coast on 15 April 1959, Terrell County headed across the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
for her third Western Pacific deployment. She subsequently returned to San Diego in November and began an extensive overhaul.
On 16 June 1960, Terrell County departed the U.S. west Coast for her fourth Western Pacific cruise. In July, 1960 her permanent home port was changed from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, Terrell County participated in a wide variety of operations with beachings and landings of embarked United States Marines and their equipment. Occasionally, maneuvers with warships of other Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, or Manila Pact, signed in September 1954 in Manila, Philippines. The formal institution of SEATO was established on 19 February...
(SEATO) member countries took place in locales ranging from Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and from Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
to the Philippine Islands. Liberties at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
brightened a sometimes uneventful deployment while typhoon evasions, too, were common occurrences.
Vietnam War service
On 4 August 1964 North VietnamNorth Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
ese torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s reportedly attacked the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and in the Gulf of Tonkin
Gulf of Tonkin
The Gulf of Tonkin is an arm of the South China Sea, lying off the coast of northeastern Vietnam.-Etymology:The name Tonkin, written "東京" in Hán tự and Đông Kinh in romanised Vietnamese, means "Eastern Capital", and is the former toponym for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam...
, off Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Terrell County proceeded to Iwakuni, Japan where she remained on alert until 20 August 1964, when she headed for Yokosuka and extended upkeep. Next, local operations in Japanese and Korean waters occupied Terrell County through the end of 1964. Underway training began the ship's new year in 1965 and lasted through February and into March 1965.
On 12 March 1965 Terrell County departed the Ryūkyū Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
, bound for South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. She arrived at Danang four days later, unloaded embarked men and cargo, and then returned to Yokosuka for major overhaul. The ship returned to Vietnamese waters following the refit and transported Marine Air Control Squadron 9 to the American base at Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
, South Vietnam, before returning to Japanese waters. Operational commitments subsequently overrode refresher training out of Yokosuka in July, forcing the ship to embark Naval Beach Group 1. Dispatched to Okinawa on 1 August 1965, Terrell County evaded a typhoon en route and made port to load Regimental Landing Team 7 before sailing on the 9 August 1965 for Chu Lai. Remaining at that American base from 15 August to 17 August, the ship evaded two typhoons en route back to Japanese waters before she reached Yokosuka on 25 August.
Following further refresher training and an upkeep period, Terrell County got underway for South Korea on 21 October 1965 and arrived at Pusan, South Korea, on 23 October 1965. She embarked elements of the Republic of Korea's "Tiger" Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, marking the first time that a Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n expeditionary force
Expeditionary warfare
Expeditionary warfare is used to describe the organization of a state's military to fight abroad, especially when deployed to fight away from its established bases at home or abroad. Expeditionary forces were in part the antecedent of the modern concept of Rapid Deployment Forces...
had been sent abroad in nearly 1,000 years. Departing Pusan on 25 October 1965, Terrell County arrived at Qi Nhon, South Vietnam, on 2 November 1965 and debarked the South Korean troops.
Terrell County operated in support of "Operation Blue Marlin" from 4 to 17 November 1965; included in this deployment was a landing near Chu Lai and a trip to Danang, South Vietnam, with support equipment on board. Once she completed this assignment, she received orders to proceed to Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
and thence to Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
for further operations. On 21 November she embarked South Korean marines and United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
support units for transport to Tuy Hoa
Tuy Hoa
Tuy Hòa is the capital city of Phu Yen province in south-central Vietnam. The city has the total area of 107 km2 and the population of 262 000 ....
. Soon after reaching Tuy Hoa, Terrell County, with her troops still embarked, broached in the heavy surf and went aground. On 24 November the fleet tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
and succeeded in pulling Terrell County off the beach. Subsequently patched and pumped dry, she got underway on 2 December 1965, under tow for Yokosuka, where permanent repairs could be made to her damaged hull.
The restoration work was complete on 22 February 1966, and the ship got underway for Naha, Okinawa
Naha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
. She embarked men and equipment of the Army's 1st Engineering Battalion and transported them to Vietnam. She completed the task on 7 March and then made another transport run from 14 March 1966 to 26 March 1966, carrying American cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
men from Naha to Saigon, South Vietnam.
After coastal operations off Vietnam from 27 March to 5 May, Terrell County retired to Japan on one shaft, since her starboard shaft had ceased functioning. On 13 May, as she crept along toward Yokosuka, her lookout
Lookout
A lookout or look-out is a person on a ship in charge of the observation of the sea for hazards, other ships, land, etc. Lookouts report anything they see and or hear. When reporting contacts, lookouts give information such as, bearing of the object, which way the object is headed, target angles...
s sighted the Soviet merchant ship Makhachala two points abaft the starboard beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
and closing. Both ships continued steady on their courses, as Terrell County assumed that the heavily-laden Soviet ship would stay clear. Finally, both ships were forced to maneuver radically to avert a collision.
Shaft troubles continued to plague the landing ship but did not interfere with the completion of her transport and cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
missions. She continued these duties into the autumn
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
of 1966. In October 1966, Terrell County sailed to Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
to serve as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' representative at the 22nd annual Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
celebration, which commemorated the American landings of 1944 supported by an earlier breed of LST
LST
LST is a three-character initialism that may refer to:* Landing Ship, Tank, a U.S. Navy ship class, of type Amphibious Warfare* Laplace-Stieltjes transform, a transform similar to the Laplace transform* Launceston Airport* Least slack time scheduling...
s.
Subsequently completing a Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection (the first ship in her squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
to do so), Terrell County conducted two more transport lifts—both to Chu Lai, Vietnam—before rounding out the year 1966 by joining Task Unit 76.0.7 as part of the Danang-Chu Lai shuttle. The ship remained with Task Unit 76.0.7 until 18 January 1967, when she sailed for Okinawa. She proceeded from there to her home port, Yokosuka. Transport operations to Okinawa, intermingled with type and refresher training exercises, continued through the spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
of 1967.
On 9 July Terrell County relieved landing ship tank as part of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, TG 76.5, then engaged in the midst of Operations "Beaver Track" and "Buffalo
Operation Buffalo (Vietnam)
Operation Buffalo was a major operation of the Vietnam War that took place in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone, northeast of Con Thien. On July 2, Alpha and Bravo Companies, 1st Battalion 9th Marines were ambushed on highway 561, near a place called "The Market Place"...
". Given the mission of "sea-trailer" or contingency logistics, she carried ammunition, medical supplies, and vehicles assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, the Marine units bearing the brunt of the fighting ashore. For two months, Terrell County supported operations in Quang Tri
Quang Tri
Quảng Trị is a town district of Quang Tri province in the North Central Coastal region of Vietnam. Significantly, it was the only South Vietnamese provincial capital to be captured by the North Vietnamese forces for a limited period in the 1972 offensive....
province, just south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ
Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone
The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone was established as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam as a result of the First Indochina War.During the Second Indochina War , it became important as the battleground demarcation separating North Vietnamese territory from South Vietnamese territory.-...
), and conducted a series of landings in rapid succession: "Bear Chain", "Kangaroo Kick", and "Belt Drive", before heading for Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 19 September 1967.
Following visits to Okinawa and Subic Bay, Terrell County loaded ammunition and causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
sections and departed Yokosuka on 1 March 1968, bound for Vietnam. However, while steaming in company with two of her sister ship
Sister ship
A sister ship is a ship of the same class as, or of virtually identical design to, another ship. Such vessels share a near-identical hull and superstructure layout, similar displacement, and roughly comparable features and equipment...
s, tank landing ships and , Terrell County lost two causeways which were torn loose by heavy seas. Returning to Yokosuka, Terrell County obtained replacement sections and embarked Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 before getting underway again and rejoining Washoe County and Westchester County en route to South Vietnam. Arriving at Danang on 13 March, she delivered her causeways and proceeded to Tien Sha to unload her ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
and to take on the gear necessary for her forthcoming operations.
Joining the Amphibious Ready Group once again, Terrell County operated off My Thuy, South Vietnam, from 15 March to 12 April 1968 before retiring to Subic Bay. She rendezvoused with the off Vietnam on 29 April 1968 for operations on station in area "Alice". Subsequently sailing for Hong Kong on 12 May for a five-day visit, Terrell County headed for Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to deliver cargo from Danang before moving to Yokosuka for an overhaul which lasted through the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
of 1968. Training and drills occupied the ship well into the autumn of 1968 before she proceeded back to Vietnam.
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
to load ammunition. On 10 December 1968, she relieved Washoe County as support LST for Task Force 115 on "Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time was the United States Navy’s effort to stop troops and supplies from flowing by sea from North Vietnam to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
", the interdiction operation attempting to interrupt North Vietnamese logistics operations in South Vietnamese coastal waters.
On 1 January 1969 Terrell County, still supporting Operation Market Time, was assigned additional duty as support ship for the fast Fast Patrol Craft
Fast Patrol Craft
Patrol Craft Fast , also known as Swift Boats, were all-aluminum, long, shallow-draft vessels operated by the U.S. Navy, initially to patrol the coastal areas and later for work in the interior waterways as part of the Brown Water Navy to interdict Vietcong movement of arms and munitions,...
(PCF) boats—which were aptly nicknamed "swift boats" -- engaged in riverine operations off the lower Ca Mau Peninsula
Ca Mau Peninsula
peninsula makes up the southern tip of Vietnam. It is in Ca Mau province, and lies between the Gulf of Thailand to the west and the South China Sea to the east....
. Three days after undertaking this duty, the LST launched her LCVP
LCVP
The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, United States, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes...
s to participate in an assault north of Song Ong Doc, in conjunction with PCFs and Song Ong Due regional forces. When Viet Cong gunners opened fire on the allied force, Terrell County returned the fire, killing five Viet Cong soldiers and assisting in the successful withdrawal of the assault forces.
Terrell County then participated in other operations against the Viet Cong, firing on their positions along the banks of the Song Bp De River and the Duong Keo River, coordinating PCFs, aircraft, and ships' batteries in firing on Viet Cong concentrations and staging areas. As a result of these operations, Viet Cong extortion from local South Vietnamese forester
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
s and fishermen
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
in the lower Ca Mau peninsula was substantially, albeit temporarily, curtailed. Relieved as "Market Time" support LST, Terrell County got underway on 5 February 1969 for the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and arrived at Subic Bay on 11 February 1969.
Training and local operations in Japanese, Okinawan, and Philippine waters preceded yet another Vietnam deployment which commenced upon Terrell County's arrival at Vung Tau on 8 May 1969. The next day, she relieved USS WestChester County and found that the tempo of operations in the lower Ca Mau peninsula had increased. With 50 men of the Mobile Strike Force embarked, as well as a U.S. Army scout helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and a U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team
Underwater Demolition Team
The Underwater Demolition Teams were an elite special-purpose force established by the United States Navy during World War II. They also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War...
(UDT) detachment, Terrell County provided support for multifaceted operations designed to destroy Viet Cong factories, training and supply camps, and extortion stations. She remained on station in the Ca Mau region until 25 June.
A visit to Hong Kong from 8 July to 24 July preceded Terrell Countys sailing for Yokosuka and upkeep. The ship subsequently carried causeways to Danang, Vietnam before resuming duties as support LST for continued interdiction and pacification operations at her old haunt, Ca Mau.
From 10 October to 25 November 1969, Terrell County supported "Operation Seafloat". With an embarked helicopter detachment, she undertook refueling and rearming of helicopters, and provided ammunition and services for PCFs, SEAL
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
teams, and troops. She also undertook small boat and PCF maintenance, as well as providing numerous personal services—laundry and small stores, to name but two. During this period, Terrell County established regular mail deliveries to off-shore units by helicopter, the first such services provided in the Ca Mau vicinity. On 15 October she fired a gunfire-support mission against Viet Cong vessels.
On 25 November 1969, tank landing ship came alongside, and Terrell County entrusted her "Seafloat" support duties to Vernon County before sailing for Danang. Loading troops and equipment on 30 November 1969, she got underway on 1 December 1969 to neutralize a threatened mortar attack before returning and refueling from .
Terrell County then returned again to Vung Tau, relieving tank landing ship USS Washoe County as "Seafloat" support vessel, providing fuel, ammunition, and communications support for a brood of smaller craft. She also assisted the landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
repair ship by receiving Krishnas stores from provision ships and delivering them, and by also serving as a platform upon which Krishnas mail and spare parts could be helicoptered in. Terrell County also provided repair and maintenance services for PCFs and smaller craft, such as PCRs. She remained at this duty through the spring of 1970.
When American forces invaded Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
in the spring of 1970, Terrell County operated as "contingency LST" from 17 to 19 May 1970. She then proceeded to Danang to pick up equipment and a "Seabee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
" causeway section for transport to Yokosuka. Soon after reaching Yokosuka, she commenced an upkeep period which lasted until 1 August 1970. A trip to Hong Kong and a final deployment to Vietnam rounded out Terrell Countys stay in the Far East.
On 1 October 1970 the Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
-registered freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
lost all power and wallowed in heavy seas. Terrell County and Washoe County went to the ship's assistance, and Terrell County passed a towline to Tung Yang. By midafternoon on 2 October 1970, Tung Yang rode at the end of the towline but, late the next day, the tow parted, and Tung Yang was once again adrift. The rescue and salvage ship
Rescue and salvage ship
Rescue and salvage ships in the United States Navy were common during World War II. Their purpose was to come to the rescue of stricken ships, usually because of their towing ability, and to tow away ships damaged because of enemy action or engine failure....
, also in the area, soon retrieved the tow, and thus allowed Terrell County to proceed to Chu Lai. After loading U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy vehicles, Terrell County departed Chu Lai on 6 October 1970 for Subic Bay. Arriving there on 8 October 1970, she took on supplies and got underway on 9 October 1970 in company with her sister ship Washoe County and three Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
ships. The two LSTs provided support services for these craft during the long voyage to the U.S. West Coast.
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
arrived at San Diego on 11 November 1970. After off-loading her cargo on 13 November 1970, Terrell County proceeded to San Francisco, California, for four days liberty before continuing northward. She reached Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, Washington, on 24 November 1970 and was placed in "in commission, in reserve" status. Her inactivation work lasted into the new year.
Decommissioning and transfer to Greece
On 25 March 1971 Terrell County was decommissionedShip decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington...
at Bremerton and placed in the Reserve Fleet
Reserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
there. She was berthed at the Pier "D" Inactive Ship Facility at Bremerton.
Transferred, on loan, to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
under the Security Assistance Program, she was renamed Oinoussai (L104) in Hellenic Navy
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
service and was stricken 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...
on 1 November 1976.
Sold outright to Greece in March 1977, Oinoussai was decommissioned by the Greek Navy on 20 March 2003.