USS TRAVERSE COUNTY

• Commissioned in 1953: USS Traverse County (LST-1160) was commissioned on 29 July 1953, serving as a tank landing ship in the United States Navy. • Named after a Michigan County: The ship was named for Traverse County, Michigan, following the tradition of naming LSTs after U.S. counties. • Korean War Era Service: Though commissioned after the Korean War armistice, Traverse County was part of the post-war fleet readiness, supporting US interests in Asia and the Pacific. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Traverse County participated in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, acting as part of the naval blockade to prevent Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba. • Vietnam War Support: The ship provided critical logistics and troop transport support during the Vietnam War, ferrying soldiers and supplies to Southeast Asia. • Humanitarian Missions: Traverse County was involved in several humanitarian operations, including disaster relief and medical support in the Caribbean and Central America. • Amphibious Exercises: The vessel participated in numerous amphibious landing exercises, training U.S. Marines and other allied forces in beach assault tactics. • Decommissioned in 1970: After nearly two decades of service, USS Traverse County was decommissioned on 1 September 1970 and struck from the Navy list the same day. • Transferred to Venezuela: In 1972, the ship was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy, where it served as Guayana (T-61), continuing its active duty in a new navy. • Legacy and Honors: USS Traverse County earned several commendations for its service, and its legacy is preserved in naval history as a representative of the post-WWII LSTs.