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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Dubuque (LPD-8)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Bravo - Quebec
NDBQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (4) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2)- National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Operation Eagle Pull, Persian Gulf Op. Frequent Wind) - Vietnam Service Medal (8 or 9) - Southwest Asia Service Medal
Fourth Row - Iraq Campaign Medal - Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (Op. Eagle Pull, Op. Frequent Wind, Eniwetok Cleanup)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)


Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock:
  • Laid down, 25 January 1965, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 6 August 1966
  • Commissioned USS Dubuque (LPD-8) in September 1967, CAPT. Howard J. Ursettie, in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Dubuque (LPD-8) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    31 May to 30 June 1968
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1, 4 to 11 and 21 to 26 November 1969
    2 to 15 and 25 December 1969
    1 to 3, and 8 to 11 January 1970
    3 to 13 and 23 to 26 February 1970
    14 to 16 March 1970
    20 to 22 April 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 10 July 1968
    21 July to 3 September 1968
    19 to 21 September 1968
    28 September to 1 November 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    3 to 6, 12 to 13 and 20 to 22 May 1971
    31 May to 1 June 1971
    14 to 16 and 25 to 29 June1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 to 15 November 1968
    Consolidation I
    7 to 9 July 1971
    11 to 12 and 21 September 1971
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    18 to 24 and 29 to 31 October 1969
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    13 to 20 December 1972
    7 to 18 January 1973
    23 to 28 February 1973

  • Decommissioned, 30 June 2011, at Naval Station San Diego, planned retention in reserve
  • USS Dubuque earned eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Operation Frequent Wind or 9 campaign stars for the Vietnam Service Medal if the Armed Forces Medal is exchanged for the 18th Vietnam campaign Operation Frequent Wind
    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. machine guns
    Aircraft
    two CH-46/CH-53 or four UH-1/AH-1, or two AV-8B Harriers
    Propulsion
    two Foster-Wheeler boilers
    two DeLaval steam turbines
    twin propellers, 24,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Dubuque 96k Dubuque (LPD-8) on the slipway at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS., prior to her launching on 6 August 1966. Dale Hargrave
    Dubuque 348k Launching of Dubuque (LPD-8),6 August 1966, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS., 6 August 1966. Dale Hargrave
    Dubuque 260k Dubuque (LPD-8) as she floated in the Pascagoula River immediately after her launching, 6 August 1966, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. Dale Hargrave
    Dubuque 131k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Jerry Hays
    Dubuque
    10090837
    173k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Triberio
    Dubuque 229k Overhead view of USS Dubuque (LPD-8) underway, off San Diego, CA. in 1967.
    US Navy photo
    Tommy Trampp
    New Orleans
    10111134
    378k The dock landing ships USS Dubuque (LPD-8) and USS Ogden (LPD-5) as well as the amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans (LPH-11) depart Subic Bay, Philippines, February 1973 to take part in Operation End Sweep in Vietnam.
    US Navy photo from the USS Ogden (LPD-5) 1985 cruise book.
    Robert Hurst

    10090838
    251k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Triberio

    10090839
    232k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) underway outbound to sea passing Point Loma at San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Triberio

    10090840
    207k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Triberio
    Dubuque 91k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) at anchor, with three Navy CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters on board. The MK-105 hydrofoil sled in the open well deck will be attached to a towline for mine clearance sweeps in Hatching Channel, 29 February 1973.
    A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. Photo and text from "Fighting To Leave" by Colonel Robert E. Stoffey, USMC (Ret.)
    Robert Hurst
    Vancouver 938k A Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve (HM-12) MH-53 helicopter on the flight deck of USS Dubuque (LPD-8) in Hatching Harbor, circa summer 1973. Photo by CDR. Michael Cosgrove USS Conquest
    Dubuque 1196k A CH-46 helicopter landing on the flight deck of USS Dubuque (LPD-8) while at anchor in Hatching Harbor, North Vietnam, summer 1973. Photo by CDR. Michael Cosgrove USN Ret. USS Conquest
    Dubuque 906k A Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve (HM-12) MH-53 helicopter approaching USS Dubuque (LPD-8) while at anchor in Hatching Harbor, North Vietnam, summer 1973. Photo by CDR. Michael Cosgrove USN Ret. USS Conquest
    Dubuque 872k Fisherman close aboard USS Conquest (MSO-488) with USS Dubuque (LPD-8) in Hatching Harbor, North Vietnam, summer 1973. Photo by CDR. Michael Cosgrove USN Ret. USS Conquest
    Dubuque 959k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) in Hatching Harbor, North Vietnam, summer 1973, while supporting helicopter minesweeping operations. Photo by CDR. Michael Cosgrove USN Ret. USS Conquest
    Dubuque 42k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Dubuque 126k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Dubuque 182k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) USS Duluth (LPD-6) and USS Mount Vernon (LSD-39) moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, November 1981. Photo by Chris Howell, Southland Ship Stores Limited, Port of Bluff, N.Z.
    Dubuque 82k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Dubuque 65k Overhead view of USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Dubuque 74k USS Dubuque (LPD 8) outbound to sea passing Point Loma while exiting San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Tripoli 144k U.S. Marines walk down to the pier at Okinawa to board the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH-10), right, and USS Dubuque (LPD-8), left, in February 1982 to participate in exercise Team Spirit '82. Team Spirit 82 was a joint US and South Korean exercise conducted between 13 February and 26 April 1982 in South Korea.
    US Navy photo by PH1 Bob Weissleder.
    Yu Chu
    Dubuque 60k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) at Hong Kong, 16 February 1992. William Chiu
    Dubuque 61k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) pulls away after receiving supplies from USNS John Ericsson (T-AO-194) while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, 16 December 2001.
    US Navy photo # 011216-N-8421M-036 by PH2 David C. Mercil.
    Bill Gonyo
    Dubuque 77k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Dubuque 68k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) 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-013.
    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
    Dubuque 82k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) moored pierside, Naval Station San Diego, CA., 29 March 2004 Photo by Brian J Johnson
    Dubuque 75k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way in San Francisco Bay, 8 October 2005, during the Parade of Ships, Fleet Week 2005 CAPT Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG Ret.
    Dubuque 79k USS Dubuque (LPD 8) passes under the Coronado Bay Bridge, 31 May 2007, as she returns home from a twice-extended deployment to the Western Pacific. The homecoming marks the end of a nearly nine-month deployment to conduct maritime operations in the Persian Gulf and transport the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
    US Navy photo # 070531-N-4658L-121 SAN DIEGO (May 31, 2007) by MC2 Mark A. Leonesio.
    Douglas Brown
    Dubuque 2089k USS Dubuque (LPD 8) moored pierside Naval Station San Diego, CA., June 2007. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Peleliu 1172k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) and Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5) steam together off the coast of Pakistan, in the early stages of supporting the Pakistani government and military with heavy lift capabilities to bring relief to flooded regions of Pakistan.
    US Navy photo # 100813-N-VN598-027 Arabian Sea (August 13, 2010) by MC2 Andrew Dunlap.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Dubuque 76k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Dubuque 876k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) moored at Naval Station San Diego, during her decommissioning ceremony, 30 June 2011. Dubuque has been in commission September 1967.
    US Navy photo # 110630-N-AB355-004 SAN DIEGO (June 30, 2011) by MC2 Foster Bamford.
    Lee Wahler
    Dubuque 262k Ex-USS Dubuque (LPD-8) moored at Naval Shipyard Bremerton, WA., 8 August 2014, while the ex-USS Constellation (CV-64) is being prepared for towing to Brownsville TX., for scrapping. Photos by Tom Armstrong.
    87k
    Dubuque 56k Commemorative ships patch for the commissioning of USS Dubuque (LPD-8) Tommy Trampp
    Dubuque
    10090841
    773k USS Dubuque (LPD-8) bronze plaque Traci Kolb for her husband Jon Harmon Kolb

    USS Dubuque (LPD-8)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Ursettie, Howard Jackson1 September 1967 - 20 February 1969
    02CAPT. Hartley Jr., Paul James20 February 1969 - 23 May 1970
    03CAPT. Smith, Donald Asa23 May 1970 - 3 November 1971
    04CAPT. Peck, Paul Arthur :RADM3 November 1971 - 1 September 1972
    05CAPT. Kempf, Cecil Joe, USN (USNA 1950) :VADM1 September 1972 - 22 February 1974
    06CAPT. McLain Jr., Roy W.22 February 1974 - 27 May 1975
    07CAPT. Ferguson, Andrew Claude27 May 1975 - 4 March 1977
    08CAPT. Sigsworth, David Eugene4 March 1977 - 11 February 1979
    09CAPT. Cullen, Charles William11 February 1979 - 12 February 1981
    10CAPT. Dennis Jr., Jefferson Rice12 February 1981 - 16 July 1983
    11CAPT. McManis, Robert Bruce16 July 1983 - 13 August 1985
    12CAPT. Neese, John Frederick13 August 1985 - 18 July 1987
    13CAPT. Balian, Alexander George18 July 1987 - 13 August 1988
    14CAPT. Wetherell, David Lee13 August 1988 - 2 August 1990
    15CAPT. Boyce, Brian F.2 August 1990 - 11 July 1992
    16CAPT. Christenson, Ronald Lee, USN (USNA 1969) :RADM11 July 1992 - 6 April 1994
    17CAPT. Golden, Kenneth Eugene6 April 1994 - 29 September 1995
    18CAPT. Jasper, Stephen Charles, USN (USNA 1974)29 September 1995 - 14 February 1997
    19CAPT. Howe, Robert Henry, USN (USNA 1972)14 February 1997 - 31 March 1999
    20CAPT. Miller, John William (Fozzy), USN (USNA 1979) :VADM31 March 1999 - 28 July 1999
    21CAPT. Haefner, Alan Monroe28 July 1999 - 24 September 1999 - crew swap with LPD-10
    22CAPT. Hejl, Thomas Anton24 September 1999 - 15 May 2001
    23CAPT. McCormack, Brian Joseph15 May 2001 - 16 December 2002
    24CAPT. Miller, Jeffrey Brett, USN (USNA 1980)16 December 2002 - 5 August 2004
    25CAPT. Sickert, Mark Robert5 August 5 August 2004 - 18 November 2005
    26CAPT. Hamilton, William Christopher18 November 2005 - 29 April 2007
    27CAPT. Lindsey, Bruce Hicks, USN (USNA 1982) :VADM29 April 2007 - 30 September 2008
    28CAPT. Nosenzo, Thomas Edward30 September 2008 - 11 February 2010
    29CAPT. Bolt, Christopher Eugene, USN (USNA 1987)11 February 2010 - 7 April 2011
    30CDR. Jimenez, Ivan Antonio7 April 2011 - 30 June 2011
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves, Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

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

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    Last Updated 5 February 2023