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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Patches Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Cleveland (LPD-7)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Juliet - Delta
NVJD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2- 22DEC1967, 14NOV1972) - Joint Unit Meritorious Award
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (8)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Op. Sharpe Edge, Liberia, Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) Vietnam Service Medal (9)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (Eniwetok Cleanup) - Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon (with Operational Distinguishing device)
Fifth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (3) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)


Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock:
  • Laid down, 25 January 1963, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 7 May 1966
  • Commissioned USS Cleveland (LPD-7), 21 April 1967, at Norfolk, VA., CAPT. R.A. Hogsed, in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Cleveland (LPD-7) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    12 November 1967 to 5 January 1968
    16 to 29 January 1968
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 to 9 and 22 to 26 November 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 16 March 1968
    26 March to 1 April 1968
    Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    8 to 11 July 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 April to 20 May 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    17 to 19 December 1970
    27 to 28 December 1970
    8 to 26 January 1971
    3 February to 8 March 1971
    22 to 24 April 1971
    Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    5 to 29 May 1969
    5 to 8 June 1969
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    3 to 27 August 1972
    11 September to 9 October 1972
    28 October to 27 November 1972
    20 to 22 December 1972
    28 December 1972 to 7 January 1973
    22 to 27 January 1973
    27 February to 28 March 1973
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 22 July 1969
    10 August to 16 September 1969
    27 September to 2 October 1969
    12 to 23 October 1969
     

  • Decommissioned, 30 September 2011, at Naval Station San Diego, retention in reserve
  • USS Cleveland earned nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,734 t.(lt), 17,326 t.(fl)
    Length 570'
    Beam 100'
    Draft 23 ft.
    Speed 21 kts.
    Complement
    24 Officers
    400 Enlisted
    Troop and Flag Accommodations
    840 Troops
    90 Flag Staff
    Boats
    Assault Craft (well deck capacity)
    one LCU or two LCM-8 or four LCM-6
    Ships Boats)
    two LCPL
    one motor whaleboat
    Armament
    two 25 mm MK38 chain guns
    two Phalanx CIWS
    eight 50 cal. mgs.
    Aircraft
    two CH-46/CH-53 or four UH-1/AH-1, or two AV-8B Harriers
    Propulsion
    2 Foster-Wheeler boilers
    2 DeLaval steam turbines
    2 Shafts, 24,000 Shaft Horsepower

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Cleveland 416k Cleveland (LPD-7) under construction circa 1963-66, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS. Dale Hargrave
    Cleveland 88k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland 111k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way in 1967, location unknown.
    US Navy photo by PHCM L. P. Bodine.
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland
    10090702
    300k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) outbound to sea from San Diego, after passing Point Loma, date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Cleveland
    10090756
    206k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) underway, off San Diego, date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Cleveland 85k USS Cleveland (LPD-7), at Hong Kong, in 1969, with a partial view of USS Catskill (MCS-1) at left. Photo by Larry Lee
    Cleveland 53k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) at anchor, in 1969, location unknown. Note UH-34 Seahorse and UH-1 Iroquois helicopters on her flight deck and LCU-1499 about to enter Cleveland's well deck.
    US Navy photo, PH3 Henry Greer
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland 24k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) entering San Diego, harbor in Sept 2002.
    © Purcell 02 Photo by Ramón Purcell
    Copies of this photo available from Ramón Purcell
    Cleveland 42k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) departing San Diego, outbound to sea loaded with US Marines and AH-1W " Super Cobra" attack helicopters in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, 17 January 2003.
    US Navy photo # 1-030117-N-2069B-011 from the Navy Newsstand web site.
    Bernard A. Cardali
    Bonhomme Richard 4166k Amphibious Task Force-West (ATF-West), comprised of;
    USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6),
    USS Boxer (LHD-4),
    USS Dubuque (LPD-8),
    USS Comstock (LSD-45),
    USS Anchorage (LSD-36),
    USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52), and
    USS Cleveland (LPD-7),
    steam in formation with Military Sealift Command (MSC) oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200). ATF-West deployed from San Diego January 17, transporting Marines and their gear to Kuwait for further deployment into Iraq.US Navy photo # 030524-N-1352S-006 Arabian Gulf (May 24, 2003) by PH2 Jennifer Swader.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Cleveland 70k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) moored at San Francisco, along the Embarcadero during Fleet Week 2003, 11 October 2003 Roy Thomas
    Cleveland 124k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cleveland 99k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) departing San Diego, CA., date unknown. Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
    Cleveland 94k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland 100k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way off the coast of Port Hueneme, CA., in support of search and recovery operations for Alaska Airlines Flight 261.
    US Navy photo # 2000203-N-1523C-002 . Photo by PHCS Terry Cosgrove.
    Bill Gonyo
    Cleveland 51k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland
    10090757
    214k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) underway, off San Diego, date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Cleveland
    10090758
    223k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) outbound to sea in the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Cleveland 438k A mobile security detachment boat escorts USS Cleveland (LPD 7) away from the pier following her involvement in the 57th annual Seattle Seafair, 7 August 2006. Seafair is Seattle's month-long traditional summer festival, which includes parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing.
    US Navy photo # 060807-N-0763C-004 Seattle, Wash. (Aug. 7, 2006) by MC3 Tara Cornett.
    Douglas Brown
    Cleveland 371k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) transits through Puget Sound during Seattle Seafair 2007 on 1 August 2007.
    US Navy photo # 070801-N-3390M-002 SEATTLE (Aug. 1, 2007) by MC2 Douglas G. Morrison.
    Douglas Brown
    Cleveland 1943k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) moored pierside at Naval Station San Diego, CA., August 2007. Across the pier is USS Germantown (LSD-42) Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cleveland 1981k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) (left) and USS Germantown (LSD-42) moored pierside at Naval Station San Diego, CA., August 2007. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cleveland 737k Indian Ocean, 18 December 2007. CAPT. Billy Hart, USS Cleveland (LPD-7)'s commanding officer, presents a plaque to Brigadier General Moosa Ali Jaleel, Commanding General of Maldives National Defense Force's Quick Reaction Force. Marines from the Combined Logistics Battalion (CLB 11) and Cleveland's medical personnel are participating in Coconut Grove, an exercise to enhance capabilities and interoperability between US forces and MNDF. Cleveland, embarked with Marines from CLB 11, is currently assigned to the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and is on a scheduled deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.
    US Navy photo by MC1(AW) Grant P. Ammon.
    Bill Gonyo
    Cleveland 2064k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to support Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability.
    US Navy photo # 100624-N-6854D-136 PEARL HARBOR (June 24, 2010) by MC2 Jon Dasbach.
    Robert Hurst
    CVN-76 115k The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), left, the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) and USS Cleveland LPD-7), 28 June 2010, pierside at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to support Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. Royal Australian Navy photo by ABIS James McDougall (# 100628-O-8247M-134).

    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland 1498k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.
    US Navy photo # 100730-N-6854D-076 PEARL HARBOR (July 30, 2010) by MC2 Jon Dasbach.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 537k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a scheduled port visit. Cleveland is the flagship for Pacific Partnership 2011, which will visit five island nations this summer: Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Pacific Partnership 2011 is a humanitarian assistance initiative, which promotes cooperation throughout the Pacific.
    US Navy photo # 110405-N-VM928-016 PEARL HARBOR (April 5, 2011) by MC2 Robert Stirrup.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 327k U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Jarvis (WHEC-725), front, USS Cleveland (LPD-7) and LCU-1665 head toward the Kingdom of Tonga to begin the first phase of Pacific Partnership, 13 April 2011. Pacific Partnership is a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that will make port visits to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
    US Air Force photo # 110413-F-HS649-046 by Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley.
    Robert Hurst
    Cleveland
    110413-F-HS649-736
    1512k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) transits toward the Kingdom of Tonga to begin the first phase of Pacific Partnership 2011.
    US Air Force photo #s. 110413-F-HS649-736 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 13, 2011) and 110413-F-HS649-799 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 13, 2011) by TSGT Tony Tolley.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland
    110413-F-HS649-799
    784k
    Cleveland 1899k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) pulls out of Tonga after completing the first mission of Pacific Partnership 2011.
    US Navy photo # 110423-N-BC134-366 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 23, 2011) by MCSN John Grandin.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 353k Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Bowen Derik attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 (HSC-23) "Wild Cards" watches USS Cleveland (LPD-7) as she pulls out of Tonga, 23 April 2011, after completing the first mission of Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that will make port visits to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
    US Navy photo # 110423-N-BC134-321 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 23, 2011) by MCSN John Grandin.
    Robert Hurst
    LCU-1665 193k LCU-1665 inside the covered well deck of USS Cleveland (LPD-7). Image was taken at Lae, Papua New Guinea, 26 May 2011, during Pacific Partnership 2011 (PP11) is an annual Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) program sponsored by the Commander US Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT). The deployment aims to strengthen alliances and promote multilateral security cooperation. Photo Kristopher Radder. Robert Hurst
    Cleveland 260k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) leads the Royal New Zealand Navy multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury (L421), a French military Puma helicopter, Landing Craft Utility LCU-1665, and the Royal Australian Navy landing craft heavy HMAS Balikpapan (L-126) and HMAS Betano (L-133) during a transit of Segond Channel. Cleveland is participating in Pacific Partnership 2011, a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that will visit Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
    US Navy photo # 110509-N-KB563-512 ESPIRITU SANTO, Vanuatu (May 9, 2011) by MC2 Michael Russell.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 756k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) transits the Pacific Ocean during Pacific Partnership 2011.
    US Navy photo # 110510-N-BC134-341 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 10, 2011) by MCSN John Grandin.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 1734k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) at Timor Leste for Pacific Partnership 2011.
    US Navy photo # 110616-N-YM863-767 TIMOR LESTE (June 16, 2011) by MC1 Eli J. Medellin.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 734k An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter departs USS Cleveland (LPD-7). Cleveland is the flagship for Pacific Partnership 2011, which will visit the islands of Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia.
    US Navy photo # 110624-O-ZZ999-010 DILI, Timor-Leste (June 24, 2011) by Kristopher Radder.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 916k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on her final deployment. Cleveland recently participated in Pacific Partnership 2011 and is scheduled to be decommissioned later this year, following 44 years of service.
    US Navy photo # 110727-N-XD424-369 PEARL HARBOR (July 27, 2011) by MCSN Dustin W. Sisco.
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 2190k USS Cleveland (LPD-7) returns to San Diego after a five-month deployment as part of the Pacific Partnership 2011 humanitarian mission.
    US Navy photo # 110804-N-KS651-097 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 4, 2011) by MC2 Jason Behnke..
    Lee Wahler
    Cleveland 160k CDR. Christopher J. Kipp, commanding officer of USS Cleveland (LPD-7), gives a final salute during the decommissioning ceremony for Cleveland at Naval Base San Diego. Cleveland was decommissioned after 44 years of Naval service.
    US Navy photo # 110930-N-UM054-167 SAN DIEGO (Sept. 30, 2011) by EMFN Yasmine Muhammad
    Ron Reeves
    Peleliu
    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),
    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

    There is no DANFS history available for USS Cleveland (LPD-7) at NavSource
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Hogsed, Robert Addington, USN21 April 1967 - 31 July 1968
    02CAPT. Linder, Isham Wiseman, USN (USNA 1947) :RADM31 July 1968 - 3 November 1969
    03CAPT. Merrick, John Leighton, USN3 November 1969 - 2 October 1970
    04CAPT. Dewenter Jr., John R., USN2 October 1970 - 18 August 1971
    05CAPT. Beck Jr., William, USN18 August 1971 - 4 December 1972
    06CAPT. Kirksey Jr., Robert Edward, USN :VADM 4 December 1972 - 11 October 1973
    07CAPT. Zoehrer, Herbert Alfred, USN (USNA 1951)11 October 1973 - 2 May 1975
    08CAPT. Ridge, James Joseph, USN2 May 1975 - 19 August 1977
    09CAPT. Cavicke, Richard J., USN19 August 1977 - 14 December 1978
    10CAPT. Kinney, Charles Herbert, USN14 December 1978 - 18 July 1980
    11CAPT. Siegel, Kent Rodney, USN18 July 1980 - 22 December 1981
    12CAPT. McPherson, Roger Bering, USN22 December 1981 - 2 December 1983
    13CAPT. Bacon III, Barton Elijah, USN2 December 1983 - 7 December 1985
    14CAPT. Byers, John Arthur, USN7 December 1985 - 23 January 1988
    15CAPT. Cloward, Richard S., USN23 January 1988 - 5 January 1990
    16CAPT. Hopson, Thomas E. USN5 January 1990 - 18 March 1992
    17CAPT. Galdorisi, George Victor, USN (USNA 1970)18 March 1992 - 12 July 1993
    18CAPT. Fellin, Tom Steven USN, :RADM12 July 1993 - 20 January 1995
    19CAPT. Nelms, Larry Wayne, USN20 January 1995 - 8 November 1996
    20CAPT. Marsh, Willie Clyde, USN :RADM8 November 1996 - 3 August 1998
    21CAPT. Winnefeld Jr., James Alexander (Sandy), USN :ADM3 August 1998 - 16 December 1999
    22CAPT. Brinkley, Ronald Waverly, USN16 December 1999 - 29 May 2001
    23CAPT. Rice, Lawrence Scott (Larry), USN (USNA 1979) :RADM29 May 2001 - 15 November 2002
    24CAPT. Brown, Robert Walter, USN 15 November 2002 - 11 August 2004
    25CAPT. Chase, Michael Bertram (Goose), USN11 August 2004 - 27 January 2006
    26CAPT. McCulloch, Francis Regier (Frank), USN27 January 2006 - 14 August 2007
    27CAPT. Hart, William Joseph (Billy), USN (USNA 1983)14 August 2007 - 26 March 2009
    28CAPT. Couch, Kevin Joseph (Bud), USN26 March 2009 - 12 July 2010
    29CAPT. Roth, S. Robert, USN12 July 2010 - 4 August 2011
    30CDR. Kipp, Christopher Jon, USN (USNA 1993)4 August 2011 - 30 September 2011
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 4 October 2022