USS Whetstone (LSD-27)

• Construction and Commissioning: USS Whetstone (LSD-27) was laid down on December 2, 1944, by the Boston Navy Yard and commissioned on February 12, 1946, just after the end of World War II. • Class and Role: Whetstone was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, designed to transport and launch landing craft and vehicles during amphibious assaults. • Korean War Service: During the Korean War, USS Whetstone played a key role in landing operations, including the transport and deployment of troops and equipment along the Korean Peninsula. • Operation Passage to Freedom: In 1954, Whetstone participated in Operation Passage to Freedom, which evacuated Vietnamese civilians, soldiers, and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from North to South Vietnam after the Geneva Accords. • Vietnam War Deployments: Whetstone made several deployments to Vietnam, supporting amphibious operations by landing Marines and equipment, and serving as a platform for riverine operations. • Typhoon Rescue Operations: In 1959, while deployed in the Western Pacific, Whetstone played a humanitarian role by rescuing survivors from the merchant ship Regina Maris after a typhoon. • Repatriation of U.S. Detainees: In 1965, Whetstone participated in "Operation Homecoming," assisting with the repatriation of U.S. detainees and prisoners of war from Vietnam. • Support for Scientific Expeditions: The ship occasionally supported scientific and exploratory missions, including transporting equipment and personnel for underwater research projects in the Pacific. • Decommissioning and Fate: After more than two decades of service, USS Whetstone was decommissioned on July 2, 1970, and was eventually sold for scrap in 1983. • Legacy: USS Whetstone earned four battle stars for her service in the Vietnam War and is remembered for her versatile service in amphibious operations, humanitarian missions, and scientific support.