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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Left patch contributed by John Flynn, right patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Bexar (LPA-237)
ex
 USS Bexar (APA-237) (1945 - 1969)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Tango - Hotel
 NPTH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended - Tachin Islands evacuation) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (3)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Congo, 1-Cuba, 7-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (4)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 2 June 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 1132) at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 25 July 1945
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission under loan-charter
  • Commissioned USS Bexar (APA-237), 9 October 1945, CAPT R.H. Wilcox, USNR inn command
  • During the Korean War USS Bexar (APA-237) participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    20 September to 2 November 1950    		 Second Korean Winter
    5 to 6 December 1951
    27 to 30 December 1951
    10 to 11 January 1952
    22 to 23 January 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    3 November 1950 to 1 January 1951    		 .

  • During the Vietnam War USS Bexar (APA-237) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Counteroffensive
    17 February to 13 March 1966    		 Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    21 April to 3 May 1968
    29 May to 30 June 1968,/td>
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase II
    26 August to 1 September 1966
    10 September to 28 October 1966
    6 November to 19 December 1966
    6 to 14 January 1967    		 Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 18 August 1968
    14 to 22 September 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    27 February to 2 March 1968    		 .

  • Redesignated Amphibious Transport LPA-237, 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 15 September 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1976
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 1 July 1972, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 June 1982, to C. W. Enterprises & Investment Inc. Scraped in either South Korea or Taiwan
  • USS Bexar received three battle stars for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 19 kts.
    Complement
    56 Officers
    480 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    86 Officers
    1,475 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons
    Boats
    2 LCM
    12 LCVP
    3 LCPU
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    1 Westinghouse geared turbine
    2 Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers
    1 propeller, design shaft horsepower 8,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bexar 53k USS Bexar (APA-237), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Bexar 75k A USS Bexar (APA-237), LCVP is stranded in the right background as LCMs unload on the Kalmo Pando beaches, at Wonsan, North Korea, with LVTs standing by to assist, 26 October 1950. Several LSTs are beached beyond that.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-421315, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Scott at LBS Products
    Bexar 965k USS Bexar (APA-237) underway in November 1955, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Buell
    Bexar 110k USS Bexar (APA-237), date and location unknown. ©George B Barber, Marine Photo and Publishing Co. San Diego CA.
    Copies of this photo are available from Marine Photo and Publishing Co.
    contributed by Tom Gonzales
    Eldorado 127k USS Bexar (APA-237) moored port side to USS Eldorado (AGC-11) at Naval Station San Diego, CA. Note the crew of Eldorado in dress blues assembled on the helo deck for a ceremony, 1963. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USNR USS Renville
    Bexar 55k USS Bexar (APA-237) decommissioning program (cover) Robert Weiss
    View the USS Bexar (APA / LPA-237)
    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 Bexar APA/LPA-237
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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 20 August 2008