USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY (LST-1167)

After fitting out and commissioning, WESTCHESTER COUNTY joined the fleet in 1954. In 1958 she transfered to the Pacific Fleet, homeported at Yokosuka, Japan. Routine operations were conducted throughout the western Pacific until March 1965, when she provided sealift for Marines going into Danang. In April she participated in the amphibious landing at Chu Lai. She continued to serve in transport, amphibious assault, and "mother ship" roles for the next three years.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY resumed duty with the Mobile Riverine Forces on 22 September 1968. On 1 November she was anchored in the My Tho River about 40 miles upstream from Vung Tau with other ships of Mobile Riverine Group Alpha, preparing to support Operation CORONADO IX. In addition to her crew and embarked soldiers (from 3/60 Infantry and 3/34 Artillery), she had over 10,000 rounds of 105mm and 155mm artillery ammo and large quantities of other explosives on her tank deck. There were five Army helicopters on the main deck.

A Viet Cong demolitions team managed to attach two mines to her hull about midship on the starboard side. When the two underwater explosions ripped WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 25 men were killed and 27 wounded. The day following the explosion, the entire Mobile Riverine Force moved from My Tho to Dong Tam.

After beaching at Dong Tam for temporary repairs, she returned to Yokusuka via Subic Bay. On 26 November, WESTCHESTER COUNTY went into dry dock at the United States Naval Ship Repair facility in Yokusuka where she remained until 5 February 1969. She returned to Vietnam on 10 March 1969.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 04 Nov 68
Beached for repairs, Dong Tam.

Twenty-three of the 25 dead were American servicemen; two were Vietnamese servicemen. One body, that of Engineman 3rd Class Harry J. Kenney, was not recovered. The 23 American servicemen who died in the sapper attack were

• USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY
  • SA Jackie C. Carter, San Jose, CA
  • SK1 Richard C. Cartwright, Jamestown, OH
  • QM2 Chester D. Dale, Capitan, NM
  • RD3 Keith W. Duffy, Yonkers, NY
  • SN Timothy C. Dunning, Santa Ana, CA
  • PN1 David G. Fell, Van Wert, OH
  • ETN2 Thomas G. Funke, Coeur D Alene, ID
  • RM3 Gerald E. Hamm, Camden, AR
  • SN Floyd W. Houghtaling, Canajoharie, NY
  • SK1 Aristotoles D. Ibanez, Philippines, XP
  • YN1 Jerry S. Leonard, Greensboro, NC
  • RM3 Joseph A. Miller, Lebanon, PA
  • RM1 Rodney W. Peters, Grants Pass, OR
  • YN3 Cary F. Rundle, Aldan, PA
  • RM3 Reinhard J. Schnurrer, St Paul, MN
  • QM2 Thomas H. Smith, Markesan, WI
  • CS1 Anthony R. Torcivia, Easton, PA
  
  
• RIVRON 11, TF 117
  • EN3 Harry J. Kenney, Cincinnati, OH
  
  
• B Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry
  • SGT Dennis K. O'Connor, San Francisco, CA
  • SP4 Leslie V. Bowman, Wallace, IN
  • SP4 Wilfredo Cintron-Mendez, Utuado, PR
  • SP4 Paull D. Jose, Garden City, MI
  • PFC Ernest F. Cooke, Hampton, VA