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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA-106 / LKA-106 Union


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Charlie - November


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 3-Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (10) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal


Tolland Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 September 1944, as North Carolina, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1697), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Renamed Union and launched, 23 November 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and towed or ferried to her conversion yard at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., Hoboken, N.J.
  • Commissioned USS Union (AKA-106), 25 April 1945, at Hoboken, N.J., CDR. Hartwell T. Doughty in command
  • During the Korean War Union (AKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    20 to 22 December 1951
    19 March to 2 April 1952
    30 April 1952
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    1 to 3 May 1952
    21 to 23 May 1952
  • During the Vietnam War Union (AKA / LKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    26 to 30 August 1966
    15 to 25 September 1966
    19 October to 23 November 1966
    4 to 11 January 1967
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    2 to 23 July 1968
    6 to 12 August 1968
    Tet Counteroffensive
    2 to 6 March 1968
    29 March to 1 April 1968
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    8 September to 22 October 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 8 April 1968
    29 April to 8 May 1968
    8 to 16 June 1968
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    4 to 11 November 1969
    18 to 21 November 1969

  • Redesignated (LKA-106), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 5 June 1970
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay. Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1976
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in September 1977, to National Metals and Steel Corp., Terminal Island, CA.
  • Union was awarded two battle stars for Korean service and six campaign stars for her Vietnam service.


    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,635 t.(lt) 13,910 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 62
    Enlisted 333
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 DP gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    14 LCVP
    8 LCM
    Cargo Capacity 380,000 cu ft, (5,275 t.)
    Propulsion GE geared turbine drive, 1 propeller, 6,000 shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Union 87k Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs circle in the transport area off Inchon, prior to going to the line of departure on the first day of the Inchon Invasion, 15 September 1950. An LST, wearing the side number QO-12, is in the center background.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-423215, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Scott at LBS Products
    Union 72k Union (AKA-106) moored pierside at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan in 1951 Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 38k Union (AKA-106) loading CB equipment in 1951, location unknown. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 72k Union (AKA-106) moored pierside Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, February 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 32k Union (AKA-106) drydocked at San Francisco 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 90k Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 91k Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 95k Union (AKA-106) at anchor, San Diego, 5 February 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Union 43k Union (AKA-106) at anchor, date and place unknown. Yves Hubert
    Union 101k Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Union 158k Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with Renville (APA-227), place unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 105k Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with Renville (APA-227), place unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 206k Shimmering Water surrounds Union (LKA-106) and Tripoli (LPH-10) berthed together at White Beach Navy pier, Okinawa.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1970, photo by PH2 R. E. Ziel USN.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Union 40k Union (AKA-106) pilot house. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 37k Union (AKA-106)'s flying bridge. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 17k One of Union (AKA-106)'s twin 40mm gun mounts. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 39k Union (AKA-106) lowering one of the ship's LCMs over the side. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 35k Two of Union (AKA-106)'s "Mike" boats alongside. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 26k Lowering one of Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs over the side at Sasebo, Japan. Photo by Don Garner USS Union

    View the Union (AKA/LKA-106)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 16 February 2007