La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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; was one,-of the largest and most expensive for A,. :-.l J ,L I With a coat of white paint to reflect the hot sun of the Middle East, LPD-3 became AGF-3 (Miscellaneous Command Ship) on July 1, 1972, and on August 24, she assumed her duties as COM1DEASTFOR flagship. The “Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast,” as she is affectionately called by the crew, steamed an average of 55,000 miles annually, calling at ports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She also participated in annual naval exercises with allied nations in the area. In February 1979, LASALLE assisted in the evacuation of 260 American and foreign citizens from the Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas. The evacuees were shuttled by two British hydrographic ships to LASALLE, which was waiting off the Iranian Coast. The operation earned the ship and her crew the Humanitarian Service Medal. At the outset of the Iranian Hostage crisis in November 1979, LASALLE was the focal point of U.S. activity in, the Arabian Gulf. While on station off the coast of Iran, LASALLE was at sea from November 19, 1979 to January 23, 1980, a total of 74 consecutive days, Unit yplmendation pennant. . ’• (nation of fhe li J pstage Crisis, and the Iran-Iraq war which began during the .summer of 1980, brought about a dramatic increase in the command and support responsibilities wftich VHP placed upon jhe crew. For their efforts during those arduous contingency operations, 'tfre 'creto was awaVded the Navy Expiditionary Medal. In November 1980, LASALLE wa eliewed a flagship for by USS CORONADO (AGF 11). While returning IWHS TJmted States for the first time in over eight years, LASALLE’s crew rescued six Norwegian merchant mariners from their burning vessel, whi£h,was off the coast of Sardinia. Shortly after her arrival stateside in December 1980, LASALLE began an extenswj million overhaul at the PhiladelphiaJ Slin

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USS LASALLE (AGF 3) Shipyard her sister amphibious On February 22, 1964, 23 months after her keel was laid at the New Yorl in Brooklyn, New York, the present LASALLE was commissioned LPD-3. She j ships, USS RALEIGH and USS VANCOUVER, as the third in a class of transports. As an Amphibious Transport Dock, LASALLE’s trademarks were mobility lexibility and versatility. She had the capability to carry more than 800 combat-ready marines «t high speed to an area of amphibious operations. In addition, she transported ammunition.lcaVgo, vehicles, and fuel to support the marines. Within her well deck, which can be flooded, boats are carried to transport men and materials. The offloading of equipment and supplies is aided by the use of a deck .mounted crane, elevators and conveyors, plus a six unit monorail, overhead crane system within the wetl'deck. The Tlioht deck is available for lifting men and supplied H ti«lieopXer. , In keeping with her trademarks, LASALLE’s operating schedule has beenlfar from routine. In May 1965 she served as flagship for CommcMWr Amphibious Forces Atlantic during the Dominican Republic crisis, in Decemiber of the .sarn year, she helped.evacuate T dnsfru fiSTT Battalion SIX from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba ana carried 950 torts of equipment back to the United States including 106 vehicles, 50 miscellaneous carriers and one 41 ton crane. In November 1966 llfl Hftade history by being the first ship of her size to successfully recover a GEMINI capsule and the first ship ever to return a capsule to Cape Canaveral after recovery. ij May 1969, she served as an c erirnentall platform for the AV-8 HARRIER aircraft, becoming one of the first ships to operate with the supersonic, vertical takeoff-and landing (VTOL) tactical fighter-bomber. , Through 1971 LASALLE served as an amphibious force flagship for various commands! Operating in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean areas, she took part in numerous Selected to replace USS VA1 Force (COMIDEASTFOR), in Jam facilities were Installed to suit her new role. She was outfitted with elaborate command communications equipment, a weather satellite receiver additional air conditioning, a modern dental facility-, sophisticated closed-circuit television systems, accorhrTTodations for an admixal and his staff, a helicopter hanger, and a .ceremonial awnincfon'her flight deck. ■ i overhaul. - .

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REAR ADMIRAL JOHN F. ADDAMS Commander Middle East Force Rear Admiral Addams was born in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and attended public schools in that city. Following graduation from Harvard University in 1952, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned an Ensign in May 1952. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Rear Admiral Addams has extensive service in cruisers and destroyers of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He served in the commissioning crews of USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DLG 13) and USS JOUETT (CG 29). He commanded USS COCHRANE (DDG 21) and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his performance of duty during combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. He has also commanded Destroyer Squadrons FIVE and SEVEN and served on the staffs of Commander Destroyer Flotilla TWO and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group EIGHT. Shore tours have included duty on the 4