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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Durham (LKA-114)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - Oscar - Romeo NOOR
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Smokey Day

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (17 Jan 91 - 28 Feb 91) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2)
Second Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Op. Frequent Wind, Op. Eagle Pull) - *Vietnam Service Medal (3 or 4)
Third Row - Southwest Asia Service Meal - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Op. Frequent Wind, 1-Op. Eagle Pull) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 10 July 1967, as (AKA-114), at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.

Launched, 29 March 1968

Redesignated (LKA-114), 1 January 1969

Commissioned USS Durham (LKA-114), 24 May 1969

During the Vietnam War USS Durham (LKA-114) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970, 20 to 21 March 1970	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 20 to 21 March, 20 to 21 July, 18 to 19 August, 6 to 7 September 1970, 22 to 24 April, 8 to 11 June 1971
Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 11 June 1970	*Vietnam Evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) 29 to 30 April 1975

Decommissioned, 25 February 1994

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 2015

USS Durham earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Operation Frequent Wind or four campaign stars for the Vietnam Service Medal if the Armed Forces Medal is exchanged for the 18th Vietnam campaign, Operation Frequent Wind

Berthed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) in a category "B" reserve status, as of 30 March 2000

Final Disposition, towed to sea and expended as a target 30 August 2020 during RIMPAC 2020.

Specifications:
Displacement 10,216.(lt) 18,589 t.(fl)
Length 575' 6"
Beam 82'
Draft 26'
Speed 20 kts.

Armament

As Built - four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

Updated - two 20mm Phalanx CIWS

Complement

Officers 34

Enlisted 375

Troop Accommodations

Officers 15

Enlisted 211

Boats

four LCM-8s

four LCM-6s

two LCVP

two LCP

Aircraft landing platform

Propulsion

one geared turbine

two boilers

one propeller, 22,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	88k	Invitation to the launching ceremony for Durham (LKA-114) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 29 March 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	169k	The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Alton A Lennon, wife of Rep. Lennon of North Carolina, breaking the traditional bottle of champagne over the ships bow during the launching ceremony of Durham (LKA-114) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 29 March 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	227k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** underway circa 1970, location unknown. US Navy PhibPac photo #350	Tommy Trampp
	174k	During the fall of South Vietnam boatloads of refugees from the Phan Rang area approach *USS Durham* (LKA-114)** for transfer to a safer area, 3 April 1975. Note motorbikes in this boat. US National Archives photo # USN 1162119 a US Navy photo by PH3 Harold Brown.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	168k	During the fall of South Vietnam boats loaded with Vietnamese refugees approach *USS Durham* (LKA-114) during a rainstorm, 4 April 1975. They were transferred from Durham** to another ship for passage to a safe zone. US National Archives photo # K-107629 a US Navy photo by PH3 Harold Brown.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	46k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** at anchor in Subic Bay, P.I., 1970.	Photo by William P Jones MD Medical Officer, USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
	88k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	242k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way, circa 1970, location unknown.	CAPT. Rex Settlemoir, USN Ret
	74k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way enroute to South Korea during her 1987 Westpac deployment.	Photo by Scott Miller
	13k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** pierside, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.
	24k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** pierside, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.
	37k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.
	149k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way off the coast of San Diego, CA., 12 January 1989. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo NH 107737-KN by PH2 Paul Self.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	52k	A garland decorates the bow of *USS Durham* (LKA-114)*, moored to a pier at San Diego as the large harbor tug Canonchet* (YTB-823) assists *USS Fort McHenry* (LSD-43)** into her berth following both ships return from the Persian Gulf area, 17 April 1991. DVIC photo # NST9110336 by PH2 Larry Nixon, USN	Defense Visual Information Center
	76k	Commercial harbor tugs position *USS Durham* (LKA-114)** alongside a pier in the background as the large harbor tug Canonchet (YTB-823) maneuvers *USS Fort McHenry* (LSD-43)** toward a pier in San Diego, 17 April 1991. Both ships are returning from deployment in the Persian Gulf area during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DNST9109191 by JO1 Joseph Lancaster, USN	Defense Visual Information Center
	18k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** under way, date and place unknown. US Navy photo.	.
100211420	670k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** at anchor, off the Silver Strand at San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
100211421	576k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)** underway, date unknown and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	90k	*USS Durham* (LKA-114)**, circa 2000, NISMF, Middle Loch, Pearl Harbor, HI.	Photo by Jim Bedient
09034211	72k	Ships laid up at NISMF Pearl Harbor from top to bottom, ex-*USS Duluth* (LPD-6), ex-USS Acadia (AD-42), ex-USS Durham LKA-114) and ex-USS St. Louis (LKA-116)**, 26 July 2006.	Photo by Yu Chu
100705102	167k	U.S. Navy ships laid up in reserve in Middle Loch, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as of 1 July 2016. Identifiable ships are (front to back): Amphibious Assault Ship *USS Peleliu* (LHA-5), Guided Missile Frigate USS McClusky (FFG-41), Guided Missile Frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG-48), Amphibious Assault Ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1), Guided Missile Frigate USS Crommelin (FFG-37), Guided Missile Frigate USS Curts (FFG-38), Guided Missile Frigate USS Thach (FFG-43), Guided Missile Frigate USS Rentz (FFG-46), Landing Ship Tank USS Racine (LST-1191), Dock Landing Ship USS Cleveland (LPD-7), USS Racine (LST-1191), Dock Landing Ship USS Denver (LPD-9), Dock Landing Ship USS Juneau (LPD-10); Amphibious Cargo Ship USS Durham (LKA-114) and Amphibious Cargo Ship USS St. Louis (LKA-116)*. US Navy photo # 160701-N-SI773-264 Pearl Harbor, July 16, 2001* by MC1 Ace Rheaume, USN.	Robert Hurst
100211418	230k	*USNS Sioux* (T-ATF-171) towing ex-USS Durham (AKA-114)** out of Pearl Harbor and sea to be expended as a target during the RIMPAC 2020 exercise.	CAPT. Wade Armstrong Pearl Harbor Pilots
100211419	228k		CAPT. Wade Armstrong Pearl Harbor Pilots
100211417	349k	Live fire from ships and aircraft participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2020) exercise sank the ex-*USS Durham* (LKA-114)*, 30 August 2002. Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel participated in RIMPAC from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971. US Navy photo # 200830-N-NO842-0102*	Michael Guerin

There is no DANFS history available for USS Durham (LKA-114) at NavSource

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Stensrud, John Donald	24 May 1969 - 1 July 1970
02	CAPT. O'Callaghan, Edmund William, USN (USNA 1947)	1 July 1970 - 20 May 1971
03	CAPT. Lockwood, Warren Harvey	20 May 1971 - 25 August 1972
04	CAPT. Tregurtha Jr., James David	25 August 1972 - 26 June 1974
05	CAPT. Bridge, Daniel Thomas	26 June 1974 - 19 June 1976
06	CAPT. Boland, Bruce Raymond	19 june 1976 - 7 October 1977
07	CAPT. Miller, John Anthony, USN (USNA 1954)	7 October 1977 - 9 May 1979
08	CAPT. Buck, Wallace Alfred	9 May 1979 - 24 October 1981
09	CAPT. White, Steve C.	24 October1981 - 5 May 1983
10	CAPT. Barker, Charles Milton	5 May 1983 - 18 July 1984
11	CAPT. Blackmon, Thomas Lester	18 July 1984 - 6 November 1986
12	CAPT. Stoddard, Howard Sanford, USN (USNA 1963)	6 November 1986 - 12 August 1988
13	CAPT. Turner, Dean	12 August 1988 - 17 January 1990
14	CAPT. Kraft Jr., Charles M.	17 January 1990 - 9 August 1991
15	CAPT. Kline Jr., Edward M.	9 August 1991 - 14 October 1993
16	CAPT. Scott, Robert Mitchell, USN (USNA 1968)	14 October 1993 - 25 February 1994


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

For more photos and information about USS Durham, see;
LKA-113 Charleston Class Specifications
The Navy's Role in the Evacuation of Vietnamese Refugees

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Last Updated 15 April 2022