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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA / LKA-108 Washburn

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Foxtrot - Echo
 NEFE
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East 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 (5) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Quemoy-Matsu, 1-Cuba, 8-Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (7) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nation Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Tolland Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 24 October 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1701), at North Carolina Shipbuilding, Wilmington, N.C.
  • Launched, 18 December 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 30 December 1944 from the Maritime Commission, and towed or ferried to her conversion yard at Hoboken, N.J.
  • Commissioned USS Washburn (AKA-108), 17 May 1945, at Todd-Hoboken Shipyard, Hoboken, N.J., CDR. W. C. Jackson, USNR, in command
  • During the Korean War Washburn (AKA-108) participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    8 October to 2 November 1950    		 UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    23 July to 6 August 1951
    28 to 31 August 1951
    5 to 12 September 1951
    3 to 4 October 1951
    Communist China Aggression
    3 to 16 November 1950    		 Korea, Summer-Fall 1953
    1 to 11 June 1953
    4 July 1953
    11 to 12 July 1953
    18 to 24 July 1953
    27 July 1953
    Inchon Landing
    15 to 17 September 1950    		 .

  • During the Vietnam War Washburn (AKA-108) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense Campaign
    30 August to 1 September 1965    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    22 April to 3 May 1968
    11 May to 17 June 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    18 to 30 September 1966
    9 to 13 October 1966
    11 to 14 November 1966
    10 to 18 December 1966
    26 December 1966 to 21 January 1967
    4 February to 10 February 1967    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    6 July to 1 August 1968
    Tet Counteroffensive
    28 February to 2 April 1968    		 Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    28 to 31 May 1969 8 June 1969
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 20 July 1969
    7 August to 22 September 1969
    29 September to 3 October 1969    		 .

  • Redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA-108), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 16 May 1970, at San Diego, CA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1976
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1980
  • Washburn earned five battle stars during the Korean War and seven campaign stars for 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 425
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 DP gun mount
    four twin 40 mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20 mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    fourteen LCVPs
    eight LCMs
    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
    Washburn 131k Washburn (AKA-108) underway off San Clemente Island, CA. during amphibious operations, as the crew was going to General Quarters, September 1946. David Buell for his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN Ret. USS Washburn
    Washburn 252k Mare Island Naval Shipyard model of Washburn (AKA-108) photographed 26 August 1949.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 4340-8-49.    		 Darryl Baker
    Washburn 80k Washburn (AKA-108) underway, date and place unknown. .
    Washburn 1074k Washburn (AKA-108) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    USN photo via the US Naval Institute.    		 David Buell for his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN Ret. USS Washburn
    Washburn 44k Washburn (AKA-108) departing San Diego June 1957 for amphibious landing exercises at Camp Pendelton, CA.
    US Navy photo    		 Dale Haskin
    Washburn 70k Washburn (AKA-108) departing San Diego, CA., date unknown. Russ Padden
    View the Washburn (AKA/LKA-108)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Washburn AKA/LKA-108
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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 8 February 2008