LST 1089 USS Rtce County

• Name Origin: USS LST-1089 was later named USS Ritchie County, after Ritchie County in West Virginia, following the US Navy practice of naming LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) after US counties. • World War II Service: LST-1089 was commissioned on 25 January 1945 and served during the final months of World War II, participating in operations in the Pacific Theater. • Occupation Duty: After World War II, the ship performed occupation duty in the Far East, supporting the post-war rebuilding and stabilization efforts in Japan and surrounding areas. • Korean War Service: The ship was reactivated for the Korean War, where it played a vital role in transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies to support United Nations forces. • Renaming: On 1 July 1955, LST-1089 was officially named USS Ritchie County (LST-1089), as part of a broader effort to give LSTs county names. • Vietnam War Involvement: USS Ritchie County participated in multiple deployments to Vietnam, supporting American and allied ground operations by delivering equipment and personnel to contested beaches and riverine areas. • Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat roles, the ship was involved in humanitarian missions, including evacuations and disaster relief operations in Southeast Asia. • Long Service Life: The ship served for over 25 years, seeing action in three major conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. • Decommissioning: USS Ritchie County was decommissioned on 24 July 1971, after an extensive and varied naval career. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and eventually sold for scrapping, closing the chapter on an illustrious service history that spanned decades.