USS Graham County LST-1176 Little Creek Va

• Namesake: USS Graham County (LST-1176) was named after counties in three U.S. states: Arizona, Kansas, and North Carolina; an unusual distinction among U.S. Navy ships. • Class and Role: She was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship (LST), designed for amphibious operations—transporting troops, tanks, and vehicles directly onto shore without docks. • Construction and Commissioning: Built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Virginia, her keel was laid on 4 November 1956, launched on 9 August 1957, and commissioned on 17 April 1958. • Homeport: Her primary homeport was Little Creek, Virginia, a major hub for amphibious warfare on the U.S. East Coast. • Cold War Service: During the Cold War, Graham County participated in numerous training exercises and operations, supporting rapid deployment and readiness of U.S. Marine and Army forces. • Cuban Missile Crisis: In the fall of 1962, she was deployed as part of the naval quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis, playing a role in the U.S. show of force. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat roles, USS Graham County took part in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief in the Caribbean and Central America. • Mediterranean Deployments: The ship made multiple deployments with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, supporting NATO exercises and operations. • Decommissioning: After over 25 years of service, Graham County was decommissioned on 1 September 1977 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register soon after. • Legacy: Parts of her superstructure and equipment were used for training at Little Creek, and her service history reflects the evolution of amphibious warfare during the Cold War era.