La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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dedication What makes a ship different? ls it the ship? ls it the mission? ls it the history? For La Salle it's all of these things - the white paint of the ship, the role as flagship of Commander Middle East Force, and 10 years of distinguishing Navy firsts. However, there is one aspect of La Salle that gives another facet to her uniqueness - the ability to make friends. Over her operating area - 4 million square miles of international waters bordering on 25 countries, La Salle has extended the hand of friendship. From the Pakistani sailor aboard the PNS JAHANGIR, to the Soviet sailor in Massawa, Ethiopia, to the lranian sailor in Bandar Abbas, lran, La Salle offered friendship and received friendship. So it is to this uniqueness, and to all the sailors whom we have met and befriended, we dedicate this book, for they have helped to make the La Salle stand alone. gf 4 s 19 in, . , ,,

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introduction On 22 February l964, the champagne bottle crashed against the bow as the USS LA SALLE CLPD-31, whose motto was to become Versatility at Sea, snailed her way into the icy waters of the New York Naval Shipyard. Dedicated by Mrs. VICTOR LONSTREET, La Salle's history has been from adventurous expeditions to Navy firsts. From 1964 to l972, La Salle served as flagship for various commands including Amphibious Squadron SlX and COMPHIBRON FOUR. lt was in the spring of i972 that La Salle was selected to replace the aging VALCOUR fAGF4ll, as flagship of Commander Middle East Force. Among, La Salle's firsts, she was the first ship of her size to recover a Gemini space capsule and the only ship ever to returna space capsule back to Cape Kennedy. She was the first U.S. Navy ship to launch and recover the British built VTOL iet fighter HARRIER , and is the only ship in the U.S. Navy to have her flight deck dedicated as Rogers Field an honor accorded La Salle by Miss Ginger Rogers. I As an LPD, La Salle is able to carry an assorted array of landing crafts and over 600 Marines and their equipment. As an AGF, miscellaneous command ship, La Salle helps to carry out the mission lot C0mmGnCler Middle East Force which also gives her the distinction of being the only U.S. Navy combatant ship to be painted white. La Salle is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to bear the name LA SALLEH. The first was a World War ll troop transport that saw extensive action' in the Pacific. Because her duty is considered a hardship tour, the average tour length is only one year hence the title, nm: Ynnr Wl'fl'1 The l..G SGlle.H , one year with the Ia Salle Cagt-33