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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski,. patch at right designed by George Starbuck

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Union (LKA-106)
ex
 USS Union (AKA-106) (1945 - 1969)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Charlie - November
NECN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba, Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (10) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Tolland Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 September 1944, as SS North Carolina, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1697), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Renamed Union and launched, 23 November 1944
  • Acquired, on loan by the Maritime Commission, to the Navy and commissioned USS Union (AKA-106), 4 December 1944, at Wilmington, N.C. for ferrying by A/V Ferry Crew # 7, to Bethlehem Steel, Hoboken N.J. for conversion
  • Decommissioned, 22 December 1944, at Hoboken, N. J.
  • Recommissioned, 25 April 1945, CDR. Hartwell T. Doughty USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Union was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II and the Korean War USS Union was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    10 December 1946 to 3 January 194710 December 1946 to 3 January 1947
    6 to 25 June 19501 to 16 December 1951
     8 to 15 February 1955

  • During the Korean War USS Union (AKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    20 to 22 December 1951
    19 March to 2 April 1952
    30 April 1952    		 Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    1 to 3 May 1952
    21 to 23 May 1952

  • During the Vietnam War USS Union (AKA / LKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    7 to 12 March 1965
    14 to 19 April 1965
    7 to 12 May 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    2 to 23 July 1968
    6 to 12 August 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    26 to 30 August 1966
    15 to 25 September 1966
    19 October to 23 November 1966
    4 to 11 January 1967    		 Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    8 September to 22 October 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    2 to 6 March 1968
    29 March to 1 April 1968    		 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    4 to 11 November 1969
    18 to 21 November 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 8 April 1968
    29 April to 8 May 1968
    8 to 16 June 1968    		  

  • Redesignated (LKA-106), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 5 June 1970
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 18 August 1970, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay. Benecia, CA.
  • Permanent transfer to the Maritime Administration, 1 September 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1976
  • USS Union was earned two battle stars for Korean service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in September 1977, to National Metals and Steel Corp., Terminal Island, CA. for $565,183.92 in a four ship transaction (PD-X-1021), Removed, 19 December 1977
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,635 t.(lt) 14,160 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Total Accommodations
    Officers 38
    Enlisted 387
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 5,275 DWT
    non-refrigerated 380,00 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    six LCVP
    eight LCM
    two Gigs
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 10,425 Bbls
    Diesel 805 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    one propeller, 6,000 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Union 728k USS Union (AKA-106) anchored off Brooklyn, N.Y., 29 April 1945, four days after conversion and commissioning. The ship's decks were still bare of her full complement of LCM and LCVP assault craft.
    Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.    		 Don Wagner
    Union 43k USS Union (AKA-106) at anchor off Brooklyn, N.Y., 29 April 1945 Yves Hubert
    Union 254k Aerial view of USS Union (AKA-106) at anchor off the Alaska coast in 1949. Don Garner
    Union 77k USS Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs pass USS Lipan (ATF-85), as they move toward the beach, 18 July 1950, as U.S. Forces land unopposed at Pohang, South Korea.
    LIFE Magazine Archives - Carl Mydans Photographer, shared by Peter DeForest. Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.    		 Mike Green
    Union 75k
    Union 87k USS Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs circle in the transport area off Inchon, prior to going to the line of departure on the first day of the Inchon Invasion, 15 September 1950. An LST, wearing the side number Q012 (ex-USS LST-550) is in the center background.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-423215, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Scott at LBS Products
    Union
    100210634    		 409k USS Union (AKA-106) underway in San Francisco Bay enroute from her homeport of San Diego to San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point for a regular overhaul which lasted from 1 December 1950 to 14 February 1951. Note tug with fuel barge above Union.
    U.S. Navy photo from the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum    		 Darryl Baker
    Union 72k USS Union (AKA-106) moored pierside at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan in 1951 Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 38k USS Union (AKA-106) loading Seabee equipment in 1951, location unknown. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 72k USS Union (AKA-106) moored pierside Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, February 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 32k USS Union (AKA-106) drydocked at San Francisco 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 90k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 91k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 101k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Union 158k USS Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with USS Renville (APA-227), location unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 105k USS Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with USS Renville (APA-227), location unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 206k Shimmering Water surrounds USS Union (LKA-106) and USS Tripoli (LPH-10) berthed together at White Beach Navy pier, Okinawa.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1970, photo by PH2 R. E. Ziel USN.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Union 248k USS Union (AKA-106) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Buell
    Union 40k USS Union (AKA-106) pilot house. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 37k USS Union (AKA-106)'s flying bridge. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 17k One of USS Union (AKA-106)'s twin 40mm gun mounts. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 39k USS Union (AKA-106) lowering one of the ship's LCMs over the side. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 35k Two of USS Union (AKA-106)'s "Mike" boats alongside. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 26k Lowering one of USS Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs over the side at Sasebo, Japan. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union
    100210632     		617k USS Union (AKA-106) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Union
    100210633     		500k
    USS Union (AKA-106)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Doughty, Hartwell Thomas, USNR25 April 1945 - March 1946
    02CAPT. Martell, Charles Bowling, USN (USNA 1930) :RADMMarch 1946 - 21 March 1947
    03CAPT. Heald, Wilton Stewart USN (USNA 1927)21 March 1947 - 1948
    04CAPT. Malone, Louis Theodore, USN (USNA 1927)1948 - 1949
    05CAPT. Murphy, John William, USN (USNA 1925)1949 - December 1949
    06CAPT. Zurmuehlen, Gerald Dale, USN (USNA 1926)December 1949 - February 1951
    07CAPT. Coffee, Doyle Murray, USN (USNA 1930)February 1951 - August 1952
    08CAPT. McKee, Francis Alvin, USN (USNA 1931)August 1952 - August 1953
    09CAPT. Holtz, Arnold Henry, USN (USNA 1931)August 1953 - 1954
    10CAPT. Hughes, John Nelson, USN (USNA 1931)1954 - 27 August 1955
    11CAPT. Finney Jr., Earl Peck, USN (USNA 1932)27 August 1955 - 4 August 1956
    12CAPT. Kait, Herman Hart, USN (USNA 1934)4 August 1956 - July 1957
    13LCDR. Cromer, Hiram F. USNRJuly 1957 - 1958
    14CAPT. Sherman, Vining Alden, USN1958 - 1959
    16CAPT. Wallace, James Bruce, USN (USNA 1939)October 1960 - November 1961
    17CAPT. Bassett, Leonard Flourney, USN (USNA 1940)November 1961 - 16 October 1962
    18CAPT. Sheppard, Charles Paul, USN16 October 1962 - 12 December 1963
    19CAPT. Betzer, William Eells, USN (USNA 1942)12 December 1963 - 6 November 1964
    20CAPT. Suerstedt Jr., Henry M. USN :RADM6 November 1964 - 18 October 1965
    21CAPT. White, Willard Edward USN (USNA 1944)18 October 1965 - 2 November 1966
    22CAPT. Wagner Jr. Theodore August USN (USNA 1945)2 November 1966 - 1966
    23CAPT. Behm, Edward William, USN (USNA 1945)1966 - 23 May 1969
    24CAPT. Hamler, Frank Tafe USN (USNA 1944)23 May 1969 - April 1970
    25CDR. Potter, Louis Caesar USNApril 1970 - 5 June 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 Union (AKA-106) history at Hullnumber.com
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    USS Union (AKA-106) War Diaries May 1945 to November 1945 and History
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 June 2023