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Home 5weet The 500-member crew of USS La Salle re- turned to their homeport July 3 after a $6.6 million, three-month maintenance period in Malta. It also marked the rejoining of the La Salle Sixth Fleet staff team. More than 725 different jobs were completed between Malta Drydocks. USS Emory S. Land and USS La Salle. The yard period included repairs and upgrades literally from bow to stern. External work included an overhaul of the anchor windlass gear, installa- tion of a new rubber-hulled inflatable boat and crane and replacement of the ship ' s boat and aircraft crane. The ship ' s stern gate was removed and steel plating put in its place. Essential maintenance re- pairs were carried out to the ship ' s power plant. Several major steam valves in the two main engine rooms were replaced or overhauled, as were the force draft blowers, which feed air into the ship ' s main engines. As an amphibious command ship, and the Sixth Fleet Flag Ship. La Salle has some of the most advanced communication and navigation systems in the Navy. Communication upgrades were made to the ship ' s internal phone system, e-mail and Internet. Navigation upgrades included a new laser gyrocompass system which was installed in Malta and tested enroute to Gaeta.
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The ship ' s crest combines features relal ing to the explorer, the city and the ship ' s mission. The upper right corner ■»ears the charges from the coat-of-arms of La Salle ' s family, an eight point star and a rabbit. The fori on the lower left side represents Fort St. Louis, which was built by La Salle in lri82 n the banks of the Illinois River. The elevated ground on which the fort stands is known as Starved Rock. The city of La Salle is not far from the site of this fort. The background an- chor symbolizes the Navy and the sea; the motto across the anchor ' s base. Facilitas Ad Marem. translates to Versatility at Sea. La Salle ' s namesake is the city of La Salle. Illinois, located in the prosperous agricultural and industrial Illinois River Valley in north- central Illinois. Founded in 1827 when the Illinois-Michigan Canal was planned, it was incorporated as a city in 1832. Abraham Lincoln enlisted in the Army at La Salle. The city has been a virtual crossroads of America, giving it a colorful history. Today, La Salle is a city of 120.000 citizens employed in the manufacturing of clocks and watches with abundant natural resources and a modern, progressive American community. teady, resolved ervice On February 22, 1964. USS La Salle was commissioned as an Amphibi- ous Transport Dock (LPD) of the Raleigh class. In 1965, she served as the flagship for Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Forces during the Dominican Crisis and participated in the evacuation of Construction Battalion Six from Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, during the Cuban Misslc Crisis. In 1966, La Salle became the first ship of her size to successfully recover and return a Project Gemini space capsule to Cape Canaveral. During 1969, La Salle served as the test platform for the prototype AV-8 Harrier VTOL fighter- bomber. In January. 1 972. after an extensive overhaul. La Salle was designated as a Miscellaneous Command Ship ( AGF) and assumed duties for Commander. Middle East Force. Painted white to reflect the hot sun, The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast steamed an average of 55.000 miles annually call- ing on ports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In 1979. La Salle assisted in the evacuation of 260 American and foreign national civilians from the Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas and became the focal point of U.S. activity in the Persian Gulf at the outset of the Iranian Hos- tage Crisis. In November 1980, La Salle was relieved by USS Coronado and returned stateside for the first time in 8 1 2 years. Upon arrival, she began a major overhaul adding an extensive electronics and communications package and replacing two 3 50 gun mounts with the MK 15 Close-in Weapons Sys- tems (CIWS). La Salle returned to the Arabian Gulf and assumed flagship duties for COMIDEASTFOR in June 1983. In 1984, La Salle embarked three CH-53 helicopters to conduct minesweep operations in the Red Sea in response to attempts to disrupt the free passage of shipping. In the beginning of 1986, La Salle conducted contingency operations off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden during the country ' s civil war. In May 1987, La Salle provided the primary Fire Fighting Rescue Assis- tance and crew support to USS Stark following the Iraqi missile attack. In Sep- tember 1987, La Salle acted as the launch platform for the assault on the Iranian minelaying vessel Iran Ajr . Crews and assault craft from La Salle conducted the assault on the vessel and effected the detention of its crew while La Salle ' s prize crews manned Iran Ajr . In January 1991, La Salle assumed the responsibility of com- manding and coordinating the multi-national Maritime Intercept Force during Operation Desert Shield. During Operation Desert Storm. La Salle returned to the United States to begin a 1 7-month overhaul in preparation for its next assignment as the Sixth Fleet flagship. During the overhaul. La Salle received extensive upgrades to its communications, and command and control capabilities. A floating barge, utilized as crew living quarters and an office complex, was fitted into the well deck and upper vehicle of the flagship in order to support the staff of Sixth Fleet during La Salle ' s newest assignment as the Sixth Fleet Flagship. Since assuming responsibilities as flagship on November 8, 1994. La Salle has proudly served throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas in her role of supporting COMSIXTHFLT and Strike Force South. Additionally. La Salle s diplomatic role fosters goodwill and understanding between the United States and Western Asian, Middle Eastern and Southern Euro- pean Mediterranean countries. In 2001, La Salle and the Sixth Fleet staff left homeport a number of times, making port visits early in the year to Gibraltar: Casablanca. Morocco; Malaga, Spain. During the middle of the year. La Salle conducted a three month maintenance period in Malta, returning to Gaeta on July 3.
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