LST-1166 was laid down on 29 November 1951 at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by the Christy Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 22 November 1952; sponsored by Miss Dorothy Christenson; and commissioned on 29 October 1953, Lt. Comdr. Mack D. Ellis in command.
Assigned to the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, LST-1166 conducted operations off the east coast of the United States with one deployment to the Mediterranean in 1956. Earlier, on 1 July 1955, she was re-designated Washtenaw County (LST-1166) (q.v.) after a county in Michigan. Transferred to the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Force in 1958, Washtenaw County was later homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, in 1960. Commencing in 1964, the tank landing ship performed extensive service in the Vietnam theater. Inactivated in August 1973, Washtenaw County was struck from the Navy list on 30 August 1973.
LST-1166 earned two Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Commendations, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, and 15 battle stars for Vietnam service as Washtenaw County.
