Tuscaloosa (LST 1187) - Naval Cruise Book

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5 The Ship's Insignia The insignia of the USS TUSCALOOSA incorporates the rich heritage of the city and county for which she is named, the proud history of the previous TUSCALOOSA, and the strength of the NavyfMarine Corps amphibious team. The black Indian figure is in honor of the city and county of Tuscaloosa which were named for the Choctaw Indian warrior, Tuscaloosa. Tusca- loosa means black warrior in Choctaw and the city is located on the Black Warrior River. The red cross on the white field is taken from the state flag of Alabama. The tusks on the sides of the emblem represent the former TUSCA- LOOSA CCA-371 which was affectionately known as Tusky . The note Extra Three Percent is from that ship, and her reputation for meeting commitments by can-do spirit. The blue color is selected for the blue waters which will pass under the keel of the USS TUSCALOOSA during her lifetime. The red highlights the role of the Marines in the NavyfMarine Corps amphibious team.

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The current USS TUSCALOOSA CLST-11871 was built by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company and was commissioned on 24 October 1970 at Long Beach Shipyard in Long Beach, California. She is designed to load, transport and land troops and their equipment in amphibious assault operations. During her eighteen years of service, TUSCALOOSA has made ten Western Pacific Deployments and has served in Amphibious Squadrons seven, five and one. TUSCALOOSA has participated in the evacua- tion of South Vietnam in 1975 and a multitude of Amphibious exercises including Beagle Dancer '73, Fortress Gale '79, Bell Volcano, Valiant Usher, Kerwal Blitz, Team Spirit and Quick J ab. She has visited such places as Numazu, Yokosuka, and Sasebo, Japan, Kaoh Siung and Keelung, Taiwan, Inchon, Pusan, Pohang and Chinhae, Korea, Mindord, Dumaghett, and Subic Bay, Phillippines, Phattaya Beach, Thai- land, Freemantle, Australia, Acapulco, Mexico, Belewan, Sumatra, Esquimalt, British Columbia, and Singapore. . During TUSCALOOSA'S distinguished history she gained the honor of being the first ship in the Paci-fic fleet to successfully pass a diesel operational propulsion plant examination QOPPEJ. TUSCALOOSA, was also the first U.S. Naval ship to visit the country of Bangladesh. Three weeks after returning from Westpace '85, the ship departed on a two month cruise to the Panama Canal, and escort vessel for the tow of EX-USS Nautilus on her historic last voyage from San Francisco to New Groton, Connecticut. Recently TUSCALOOSA completed drug interdiction operations in cooperation with the Coast Guard off the coast of Mexico. 2 5

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Commanding Officer 16 May 86-19 Aug 88 Commander H.C. Schlichting, Jr. Commander H. C. Schlichting, Jr., was born in New Braunfels, Texas, where he graduated from South West Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He received his commission in June of 1969, through the Reserve Officer Candidate CROC1 program, after spending six years enlisted service in the Naval Reserve from high school through college. CDR Schlichting has served on USS MUNSEE CATF 1071 and USS COCOPA QATF 1011 as Supply, Deck, Operations and Executive Officer. Following completion of Department Head School he served on USS CHARLES R. WARE CDD 8651 and USS ROBERT A. OWENS CDD 8271 as weapons Officer. Following a short tour at AFEES Houston, he reported for duty in the Amphibious Navy as Operations Officer on USS MOBILE KLKA 1151. He completed, a tour as Leadership Management and Education Training Instructor at the Basic Surface Warfare School in Coronado, California. While ashore, he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from National University. He went back to sea as Executive Officer on board USS BRISTOL COUNTY CLST 11981. His next assignment was at the American Embassy, Nassau, Bahamas as the Naval Liaison Officer, and as the Department of Defense representative to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos. Decorations worn by CDR Schlichting include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Mega? Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, and Vietnam Service e a . CDR Schlichting is married to the former Janie Moeller of New Braunfels, Texas. They have two children, Trey, 17, Lennea, 16, are currently living in Chula Vista, California prior to their next move to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.