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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)
ex
USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) (1954 - 1961)
USS Valley Forge (CVA-45) (1952 - 1954)
USS Valley Forge (CV-45) (1946 - 1952)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Romeo - November NHRN

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (3)(CVA)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)(LPH) - China Service Medal (extended) (CVA) - World War II Victory Medal (CVA)
Third Row Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Europe clasp) (CVA) - Nation Defense Service Medal (2)(CVA/LPH) - Korean Service Medal (8) (CVA)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) (LPH) - Vietnam Service Medal (9) (LPH) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (9) (LPH)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal (CVA) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (LPH) - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive) (CVA)

Essex Class Aircraft Carrier ("Long Hull" group, aka Ticonderoga Class) / Boxer Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter):

Laid down, 7 September 1944, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia PA.

Launched, 18 November 1945

Commissioned USS Valley Forge (CV-45), 3 November 1946, CAPT. John W. Harris, in command

During the Korean War USS Valley Forge (CV-45 / CVA-45) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 2 July to 12 September 1950 18 September to 2 November 1950	Second Korean Winter 9 December 1951 to 17 January 1952 1 to 20 February 1952 5 March to 2 April 1952 16 to 30 April 1952
Communist China Aggression 3 to 19 November 1950 22 December 1950 to 24 January 1951	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 1 to 14 May 1952 26 May to 11 June 1952
Inchon Landing 13 to 17 September 1950	Third Korean Winter 2 to 22 January 1953 11 February to 15 March 1953 29 March to 11 April 1953 22 to 30 April 1953
First UN Counter Offensive 25 January to 26 March 1951	Korea, Summer-Fall 1953 1 to 14 May 1953 27 May to 6 June 1953

Reclassified Attack Aircraft Carrier (CVA-45), 1 October 1952

Modified at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth VA., and reclassified Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft Carrier (CVS-45), 1 January 1954

Reclassified Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) (LPH-8), 1 July 1961, CAPT. Clarence A. Melvin, in command

Converted at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth VA., March through July 1961

During the Vietnam War USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 30 June to 4 July 1962 16 to 17 June 1964 5 August 28 September 1964 7 to 14 October 1964	Tet Counteroffensive 1 March to 1 April 1968
Vietnam Defense Campaign 6 to 7 October 1965 7 to 18 November 1965 25 November to 24 December 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 to 15 April 1968 27 April to 16 June 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 25 December 1965 6 January 1966 26 January to 1 March 1966 8 March 1966	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 5 to 7 July 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 30-September to 2 October 1966 26 October to 6 November 1966	Tet 69/Counteroffensive 3 to 20 April 1969 2 May to 8 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 28 November to 3 December 1967 18 December 1967 to 29 January 1968 30 January to 19 February 1968	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 14 June 1969 7 July to 15 August 1969 2 to 6 September 1969

Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 15 January 1970

USS Valley Forge earned eight battle stars for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service, as well as three Navy Unit Commendations

Turned over to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, San Diego CA, 16 January 1970

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 29 October 1971, to Nicolai Joffre Corp., Beverly Hills, CA.

Specifications:
Displacement 26,556 t.(lt) 36,457 t.(fl)
Length 888'
Beam 138'
Draft 30' (max.)
Speed 33 kts.
Complement 1,200
Troop Accommodations 1,450
Aircraft 30 Helicopters
Armament two dual 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
Propulsion

eight 600 psi M-type B&W boilers

four steam turbines

four turbo-drive 750Kw Ship's Service Generators

four shafts, 75,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	328k	*Namesake* Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight military encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington. In September 1777, British forces had captured the American capital of Philadelphia. After failing to retake the city, Washington led his 12,000-man army into winter quarters at Valley Forge, located approximately 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. They remained there for six months, from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778.[3] At Valley Forge, the Continentals struggled to manage a disastrous supply crisis while retraining and reorganizing their units. About 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died due to disease, possibly exacerbated by malnutrition. Today, Valley Forge National Historical Park preserves and protects over 3,500 acres of the original encampment site.(Wikipeda) Photo - "Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge" (Library of Congress, John Ward Dunsmore	Tommy Trampp
	227k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, date an location unknown.	Brian Kline
	220k		Brian Kline
	97k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
10110802	190k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Nicholas Tiberio
10110854	350k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** passing through the Panama Canel, north to south, enroute to San Diego, CA., January 1962	Nicholas Tiberio
10110855	178k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway outbound from San Diego harbor, date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
	37k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) passing through the Panama Canal in January 1962 heading for her homeport of San Diego, CA. Photos from the The Brown Shoe Project**	Yu Chu
	49k		Yu Chu
	100k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with USS Paul Revere (APA-248) and USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)** during a WestPac deployment, circa 1962. US Navy photo.	Charles Schiele, Radioman, Comservron Three
	160k	US Marines double-time across the flight deck of *USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** on their way to boarding Sikorsky HUS-1 (later UH-34D) "Seahorse" helicopters, during Exercise "Pot Shot", circa 1962. Note aircrewman standing by the helicopter at right. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 96957	Robert Hurst
	96k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** getting underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1962	Joe Radigan
	94k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1962	Joe Radigan
	91k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, September 1963	Joe Radigan
	170k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway in the Pacific Ocean, circa 1962-63, prior to her "FRAM II" overhaul. She has fifteen UH-34D "Seahorse" helicopters spotted in take-off positions on her flight deck. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 96946	Robert Hurst
	154k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) in the South China Sea, circa 1964-65. Valley Forge** off-loaded fixed wing aircraft at Taiwan (note aircraft spotted on her after flight deck) and helicopters in Vietnam. US Navy photo
	5784k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway, circa 1963 to 1965, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Deven Rittal
	101k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** at sea, 30 May 1964, with Marine Corps UH-34 helicopters spotted on her flight deck. Photographed by Salter. US Navy photo # USN 1104168, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	US Naval Historical Center
	255k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) foreground, and the Royal Australian Navy helicopter carrier HMAS Sydney (R17)** during a SEATO-exercise off the Philippines in May 1964. US Navy photos from the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) 1964 cruise book.	Robert Hurst
	52k		Robert Hurst
	158k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway while transporting A-4 "Skyhawk" attack aircraft in addition to her usual complement of UH-34D "Seahorse" helicopters, circa 1965. She also has cargo and vehicles stowed on her flight deck, near the island. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 96945	Robert Hurst
	173k	Marines of the Battalion Landing Team 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, move forward toward waiting UH-34D helicopters of *HMM-362* on board *USS Valley Force* (LPH-8)*, 29 January 1966. US Marine Corps photo*	Tommy Trampp
NS022080	508k	Colorized photo of five U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carriers at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 2 August 1966: *USS Bennington* (CVS-20), USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), USS Yorktown (CVS-10), USS Valley Forge(LPH-8), converted to Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter), and USS Hornet (CVS-12)**. Official U.S. Navy photograph, # CVS-20-160-8-66.	Chin Yu Chu
095901192	166k	*USS Sacramento* (AOE-1) refuels the amphibious assault ship USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) and the attack transport USS Montrose (APA-212)*, circa 1966. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) 1965-1966 cruise book.*	Robert Hurst
	151k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) under way off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1966-1969. Photos taken from USS Caliente (AO-53)**.	Photos by Bill Dougherty
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10110851	146k	U.S. Marine Corps LVT-5 Amtracs pass *USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8), in 1968. US Navy photo from the USS Thomaston (LSD-28)** 1968 cruise book.	Robert Hurst
	89k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) with Marine Corps CH-46 helicopters embarked, probably during operations off South Vietnam, circa 1968. USS Thomaston (LSD-28)** is in the background, at right. Photo was received by "All Hands" magazine on 30 July 1968. US Navy photo # NH 96947 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	823k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** underway in 1968, location unknown.	Tom Bateman
	39k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** off the coast of Danang, Vietnam, 1968.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC
	45k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** off the coast of Danang, Vietnam, 1968.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC
	60k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** off the coast of Danang, Vietnam, 1968.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC
	73k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** off the coast of Danang, Vietnam, circa 1968.	Pete Harlem
	47k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** moored pierside Naval Air Station North Island, CA., 7 December 1968. Photo Roger B. from Flickr	Yu Chu
	25k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** moored pierside at Naval Supply Center Subic Bay, Philippines, date unknown. On the opposite side of the pier is an unidentified AKV (possibly, Core, Card or Breton). US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	75k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** at anchor off US Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippines, 23 February 1969. Photo source 1969 USS Tripoli Cruisebook	Yu Chu
	183k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8) underway, date and location unknown. Photo source San Diego Air and Space Museum**	Yu Chu
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10110852	390k	A Marine Corps UH-34D Seahorse helicopter lifts a vehicle from the flight deck of *USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)** possibly for transport into South Vietnam. US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation	Yu Chu
	45k	*USS Valley Forge* (LPH-8)**, WESTPAC, September 1969 in transit from Danang to Yokosuka on her way home for decommissioning	Ramon Jackson

USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) ex (CV-45)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Melvin, Clarence Agee	7 September 1960 - 16 September 1961
02	CAPT. Jackson, Henry Smith, USN (USNA 1938)	16 September 1961 - 31 October 1962
03	CAPT. Fidel, John Anthony	31 October 1962 - 20 September 1963
04	CAPT. Parks, John Edward	20 September 1963 - 24 September 1964
05	CAPT. Conatser, Charles Neal	24 September 1964 - 7 August 1965
06	CAPT. Madson, Richard Oscar	7 August 1965 - 12 August 1966
07	CAPT. Carr, Charles Harrison, USN (USNA 1941)	12 August 1966 - 1 December 1967
08	CAPT. Payne, Paul Elbert	1 December 1967 - 25 November 1968
09	CAPT. Henderson, David William, USN (USNA 1944)	25 November 1968 - 11 December 1969
10	CDR. Schock, Robert Edson	11 December 1969 - 15 January 1970


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) Ship's H-34 Helicopter �BEARCAT ONE� Rescue 1968

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 21 April 2023

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)ex USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) (1954 - 1961) USS Valley Forge (CVA-45) (1952 - 1954) USS Valley Forge (CV-45) (1946 - 1952)

USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)
ex
USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) (1954 - 1961)
USS Valley Forge (CVA-45) (1952 - 1954)
USS Valley Forge (CV-45) (1946 - 1952)