LST-344
Caption:
LST-344 was laid down on 18 October 1942 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; launched on 15 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. H. H. Ward; and commissioned on 14 January 1943, Lt. Maurice G. Jackson, USNR, in command.
During World War II, LST-344 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the following operations:
Sicilian occupation-July 1943
Salerno landings-September 1943
Invasion of Normandy-June 1944
On 1 July 1955, she was named Blanco County (LST-344) after a county in south central Texas. The tank landing ship was decommissioned on 3 October 1969 and struck from the Navy list on 15 September 1974. She was sold for scrap.
LST-344 earned three battle stars for World War II service.
Published: Thu Jul 30 09:44:53 EDT 2015