Whitfield County (LST 1169) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHlP'S HISTORY After two weeks of upkeep in Yokosuka, USS WHITFIELD COUNTY proceeded directly to Dong Tam, RVN, and RIVFLOT ONE. The ship joined the task force and relieved USS VERNON COUNTY CLST 11615 as Support LST on July 15, 1968. Loaded with troops of the Army's 4f47th Infantry Batallion, 9th Infantry Division, three helicopters of the Army's Aviation Detachment, the boats and men of River Assault Division 92, and tons of support supplies and ammunition, operations aboard the ship proceeded on a non-stop basis. Upon being relieved by USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY QLST 11675 on September 23rd, the ship headed for six days of rest and relaxation in Bangkok, Thailand. The ship arrived in Danang on October 8th, and side-loaded two causeway sections along with BMU-1 personnel and their equipment. The following day the ship was underway for Chin Wan, Okinawa. The ship beached at Chin Wan's Red Beach - the first beaching there by any LST-on October 14th and, after a brief overnight stay, got underway for amphibious execrises CLVT training5 with the Marine Corps' 5th Amphibious Tractor Batallion at Oura Wan. Late that evening the ship departed Okinawa for Yokosuka. USS WHITFIELD COUNTY arrived in Yokosuka on October 18th and began making repairs and preparing for another tour with RIVFLOT ONE. On the 17th of November the ship was underway for the Mekong Delta. Traveling with her were the USS ASHVILLE CPG 845 and USS GALLUP CPG 855. The ships stopped briefly at Buckner Bay for refueling and at Subic Bay for the USS WHITFIELD COUNTY to side-load four newly-developed side protection causeways for evaluation during her river deployment. On November 29th, the two PG's were detached and the ship proceeded toward the Mekong Delta. Arriving at Dong Tam on the last day of November, the ship quickly set about relieving USS WASHTENAW COUNTY CLST 11665 as Support LST. DELTA Company of the 4f47th Infantry Batallion, CHARLIE Company of the 3f6Oth Infantry Batallion, and the Army's Aviation Detachment were embarked on board. The ship remained with RIVFLOT ONE through the remainder of the year. Just prior to our scheduled departure from the task force, USS TOM GREEN CLST 11595, which was acting as Resupply LST for the task force, was rocketed by the Viet Cong. A replacement had to be ordered ing and so, USS WHITFIELD COUNTY quickly stepped into the task of supplying stores and ammunition to the Naval Forces in the Mekong Delta. Finally on January 3Oth, 1969, our replacement arrived and the ship set sails for six days of rest and relaxation in Hong Kong before returning to Yokosuka. Arriving in Yokosuka on February 17th, the ship commenced three weeks of upkeep. On the morning of March 24th, the ship left Yokosuka to provide training assistance for the amphibious ships of the Republic of Korea's Navy in Chinhae, Korea. Then, once again, on April 25th, the ship left Yokosuka to rejoin RIVFLOT ONE as Support LST. Prior to her arrival in the Mekong Delta, USS WHITFIELD COUNTY stopped for a day and a half in Subic Bay to sideload another set of causeway side-protection. Arriving in Dong Tam the morning of May 8th, the ship quickly relieved USS WINDHAM COUNTY CLST 11705 and assumed her well-known role as Support LST for RIVFLOT ONE. This particular visit will always be memorable to the crew of the WHITFIELD. We were witness to the gradual break-up of the MRB-the departure or the transfer of numerous small craft to the Vietnamese. We qualified for the Combat Action Ribbon, and the LUCKY LADY came through without a scratch. Although we did not leave on time, the USS TOM GREEN COUNTY CLST 11595 arrived and we offloaded in record time. We headed out of the Rivers on July 5th bound for Keelung, Taiwan, and then home for a long stay in Yokosuka- -' w e ' -'-, .-5

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. coMiviANDiNG QFFICER LCDR Robert A. Shinn, USN Lieutenant Commander Robert A. SHINN, USN, was born in Oklahoma City on July 11th, 1931. LCDR SHINN attended the University of Oklahoma before enlist- ing in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. While serving aboard USS SANBORN QAPA-1935, he was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy and entered classes there in 1952. Receiving his commission in 1955 as Ensign, United States Navy, LCDR SHINN reported aboard the heavy cruiser USS SALEM CCA-1395, which was then flag ship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. He served aboard SALEM for two years aS First Division Officer. ln 1958 LCDR SHINN left the SALEM to attend submarine school at New London, Connecticut. Upon graduation, he served as Engineering Officer aboard the submarine U35 SEA UWL CSS-4055, followed by a tour aboard USS TORO CSS-4223 aS the submarine's Operations Officer. LCDR SHlNN's submarine service was followed bil a tour as an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Naval Communications in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1963 LCDR SHINN returned to the Pffmpljtlblous NAVY HS Engineering Officer aboard USS POINT DEFIANCE CLDS-311 rior 0 assuming COmmand of USS WHITFIELD COUNTY CLST-11695 in February of 195S LCDR SHINN served as Future-Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Coronado. , LCDhR SHINN is married to the former Ethelyn Jones of Coronado, California- They ave two SONS, George C123 and Clay 445. The Shinn family now resides In Hayama, Japan.