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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Point Defiance (LSD-31)


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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2-Vietnam, 18 April 67, 27 January 72) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 6-Vietnam)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (10)- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (12) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Thomaston Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 23 November 1953, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 28 September 1954
  • Commissioned USS Point Defiance (LSD-31), 31 March 1955, CDR. Oscar Blair Parker in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Point Defiance participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    4 to 21 July 1965
    17 to 23 August 1965
    11 September to 10 October 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 7 July 1968
    21 July to 1 September 1968
    25 October to 1 November 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    9 to 13 and 21 to 28 April 1966
    21 to 25 May 1966     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 to 13 November 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    26 to 29 November 1966
    4 to 9 December 1966
    5 to 17 January 1967
    9 to 24 February 1967
    28 February to 7 March 1967
    25 April to 31 May 1967     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    19 to 23 November 1969
    16 to 27 December 1969
    30 January to 2 February 1970
    30 to 31 March 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 to 5 June 1967     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    2 to 6 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    10 to 30 June 1968     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    27 April to 28 May 1972
    9 June to 2 July 1972
    9 July to 25 August 1972
    16 to 18 September 1972
    29 September to 1 October 1972
    6 to 20 October 1972

  • Decommissioned, 30 September 1983
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 12 August 1991
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 24 February 1992
  • Sold to Pegasus Inc, 29 September 1995, for scrapping
  • Repossessed by the Navy, 1 July 1997
  • Custody transferred to MARAD, 18 August 1998, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.,
  • Final Disposition, to be resold for scrapping
  • USS Point Defiance earned ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,899 t.(lt), 11,525 t(fl)
    Length 510'
    Beam 84'
    Draft 19'
    Speed 21 kts.
    Complement 304
    Troops Accommodations 300
    Armament (as built) 8 twin 3"/50, 6 twin 20mm AA guns
    Boat Capacity (Well Deck) 21 LCM(6)s
    Aircraft Capacity up to 8 helicopters
    Propulsion
    two steam turbines two propellers 23,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Point Defiance 113k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) underway in San Francisco Bay, September 1957.
    Photo by Allied Photographers.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Point Defiance 67k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31), during amphibious exercises, circa 1957-58, WESTPAC. Donald J. Wagner, SM3, USN USS Gunston Hall
    Point Defiance 108k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine April 1959.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Point Defiance 86k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine April 1959.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Point Defiance 35k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in World War II
    Point Defiance 68k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Stanley C. Svec
    Point Defiance 89k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31), underway off the California coast, date unknown.
    Photo @copy Marine Photo and Publishing Co., Spring Valley, CA.    		 Submitted by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 64k Marine LVTP-5 (Amtrac’s) making their amphibious landing at Van Tuong, South Vietnam in Operation Starlite, 18 August 1965. Operation Starlite involved 5,500 US Marines and was the first major engagement between Viet Cong and US Marines in the Vietnam War, Photo taken from USS Point Defiance (LSD-31). Photo by Jerry Bass USS Point Defiance. Submitted by Frank Andrus BM3 USS Point Defiance
    Point Defiance 52k Scene in the USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) well deck as Marines prepare to disembark at Da Nang, South Vietnam, circa 1966. Frank Andrus BM3 USS Point Defiance
    Point Defiance 45k General views taken aboard USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) circa October 1968 to May 1969. Photos by Roy Smith USS Point Defiance
    Point Defiance 57k
    Point Defiance 61k
    Point Defiance 65k
    Point Defiance 57k
    Point Defiance 48k
    Point Defiance 69k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1977. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 68k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1977. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 66k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1977. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 131k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) well-deck loaded with vehicles, circa 1977. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 72k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) anchored, circa 1977, place unknown. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 69k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) being moored, circa 1977, place unknown. Photo by Dr. Kenneth Hartman
    Point Defiance 133k USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) maneuvering in San Diego Bay in late 1978.
    Photos taken from the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).    		 Photos by Richard Stiles
    Point Defiance 124k
    Point Defiance 592k Ex-USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) being moved from the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay to Mare Island, 8 September 2011, for hull cleaning prior to being scrapped Photo by John Cavano
    Point Defiance 1514k Ex-USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island, CA., 17 September 2011, to have her bottom cleaned by Allied Defense Recycling prior to being moved to the scrapers yard at Brownsville, TX. Photos by Darryl Baker
    Point Defiance 2760k
    Point Defiance 2401k
    Point Defiance 924k Ex-USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) moored pierside at Mare Island, 25 September 2011, after cleaning and prior to being towed to the dismantlers yard at Brownsville, TX. Photo by Darryl Baker

    For more photos and information about USS Fort Defiance, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Commanding Officers
    		•
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 January 2012