Rankin (LKA 103) - Naval Cruise Book

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NIEDIII - B9 USS RANKIN fLKA-1031 Captain C. N. Pierozzi, USN Commanding Ciiicer LTJG SA. Mamikonian, USNR Cruise Book Editor Jia, W1 X 9 Moa' in g 1

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I 391 jp Q'-iwfis HISTGRY or THE USS RANKIN USS RANKIN lLKA-1031, named for Rankin County, Mississippi, was built in Wilmington, North Carolina, and later converted into an attack cargo ship at the Charleston, North Carolina, Naval Shipyards. She was first commissioned on 24 Feb- ruary 1945 at the Boston Naval Shipyards. During her brief year of service during WW II, RANKIN was part of the Pacific Fleet. After the war, she was decommissioned and placed in the Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. On 22 March, 1952 RANKIN was recommis- sioned and ioined the Atlantic Fleet with her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. During the first eight years following her recommissioning, RAN- KIN won the Battle Efficiency E six times, five of which were consecutive years, thus entitling her to display the Gold E , She was the first ship in the Atlantic Fleet to be so honored. In October 1962, upon the discovery of Rus- sian lntermediate-range ballistic missles in Cuba, RANKIN was part of the Amphibious Force of the Atlantic Fleet, which marshalled near Cuban waters and was prepared for any eventuality. In February 1963, RANKIN, with Amphibious Squadron Ten and components of the Second , . . - - - A Marine Battalion, ,visited Sfxntoidigirrajixrago fosffyvlaa 'Enaargurafrion ofiitigieifirst elected President ofiti-ue Dominican Repuibiicig 'ar their alert role on this occasion the RANliSNreceived commendationsfrom Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. In April of that same year, as a result of the unstable political situation in Haiti, the ship proceeded directly to a position off Haiti and patrolled in the Gulf of Gonave for a period of thirty-one days until ten- sions eased. During Squadron exercises in April of 1965, RANKIN took part in the Domincan Republic crisis. Arriving off the coast of Santo Domingo, RANKIN and other ships of Squadron Ten commenced the mass embarkation and evacuation of over 1,000 U. S. civilian nationals and refugees. As a result of this successful amphibious operation, all per- sonnel of the RANKIN were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy. In October of 1966 the RANKIN was called upon to render relief to the disaster area of Cayes-Jacmel Haiti, after Hurricane Inez caused massive damage to the island. Men of the RANKIN unloaded tons of food, medical and building sup- plies tothe stricken people. After her regular overhaul period in 1967, RANKIN returned to operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean with Amphibious Squadron Ten. Deployed to the Caribbean from March to July 1968, RANKIN visited San Juan, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Panama, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Aruba, and Jamaica. ln August 1968, RANKIN participated in Riv- erine 68. This exercise was designed to demon- strate to Marine and Naval Forces the latest methods of combating iungle warfare. In November 1968, RANKIN was reassigned to Amphibious Squadron Four. In December 1968, RANKIN participated in the Apollo 8 Moon Shot as a secondary recovery ship operating sourth of Bermuda. In January 1969, RANKIN deployed south to the Caribbean for two months of intensive opera- tions and then returned to Norfolk to prepare for the Mediterranean cruise.