USS Tortuga (LSD-26)

• Namesake: USS Tortuga (LSD-26) was named after the Dry Tortugas, a small group of islands at the end of the Florida Keys, known for their strategic location and military history. • Class & Type: Tortuga was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, designed to transport and launch landing craft and vehicles during amphibious operations. • World War II Service: Although commissioned on 8 June 1945, Tortuga missed major combat in World War II by just weeks and was used primarily for postwar logistics in the Pacific. • Korean War Action: During the Korean War, Tortuga supported amphibious assaults, including the famous Inchon landing, and transported prisoners of war and equipment. • Operation Big Switch: In 1953, she played a role in "Operation Big Switch," the massive exchange of prisoners of war at the end of the Korean War. • Arctic Operations: In the late 1950s, Tortuga participated in Arctic resupply missions, demonstrating the versatility of LSDs in extreme environments. • Vietnam War Deployments: Tortuga made multiple deployments to Vietnam, supporting amphibious landings, riverine operations, and serving as a "mother ship" for Patrol Boat, River (PBR) units. • Rescue Missions: The ship was involved in several rescue missions, including saving the crew of the merchant ship Flying Enterprise in 1960 after it broke apart in a storm. • Decommissioning and Fate: Tortuga was decommissioned in 1970 after 25 years of service and was eventually sold for scrap in 1974. • Honors and Legacy: USS Tortuga (LSD-26) earned one battle star for World War II, five for Korea, and seven for Vietnam, reflecting a long and distinguished service record in three major conflicts.