Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Point Defiance (LSD-31)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - November - Mike
 NHNM
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 2 steam turbines, 2 shafts, 23,000 SHP
    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 52k Scene in the USS Point Defiance (LSD-31) well deck as Marines prepare to disembark at Da Nang, South Vietnam, circa 1966. Photo by Frank Andrus BM3 USS Point Defiance
    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

    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
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The LSDs of the US Navy
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Dock Landing Ship (LSD) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 15 January 2010