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LST-344

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Caption: LST-344 off Guam in the 1960s, with Army LCU-1517 (descendant of the Navy's LCT of World War II) and vehicles on deck. Except for a tripod mast and additional 40mm guns, she is little changed from her original appearance.

LST-344 was laid down on 18 October 1942 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. H. H. Ward; and commissioned on 14 January 1943, Lt. Maurice G. Jackson, USNR, in command.

During World War II, LST-344 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:

Sicilian occupation-July 1943

Salerno landings-September 1943

Invasion of Normandy-June 1944

On 1 July 1955, she was named Blanco County (LST-344) after a county in south central Texas. The tank landing ship was decommissioned on 3 October 1969 and struck from the Navy list on 15 September 1974. She was sold for scrap.

LST-344 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

 

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Published: Thu Jul 30 09:44:53 EDT 2015