USS Whitehall PCE-856 & LST Squadron 9

**USS Whitehall (PCE-856)** was a PCE-842-class patrol craft escort commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Launched in 1943, she primarily performed convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols in the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters, safeguarding vital Allied shipping from enemy submarines. In the later stages of the war, she also supported training and coastal defense operations before being decommissioned in 1946. **LST Squadron 9** was a U.S. Navy amphibious squadron composed of Landing Ship, Tanks (LSTs), which played a significant role in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The squadron participated in numerous amphibious landings, including the campaigns in the Philippines and Borneo, enabling the rapid deployment of troops, vehicles, and supplies onto hostile beaches. Their contributions were instrumental in the success of Allied island-hopping operations.