USS Wood County (LST-1178)

• Commissioned in 1959: USS Wood County (LST-1178) was commissioned into the United States Navy on 17 December 1959, serving as a tank landing ship (LST) designed to transport tanks, vehicles, cargo, and troops directly onto shore without docks or piers. • Named After Multiple Counties: The ship was named after counties in Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, following the tradition of naming LSTs after U.S. counties. • DeSoto County-class: Wood County was a member of the DeSoto County-class LSTs, which were the last class of LSTs designed and built for the U.S. Navy, featuring improved speed and habitability over previous designs. • Role in Cuban Missile Crisis: In October 1962, Wood County was called into service during the Cuban Missile Crisis, participating in the naval quarantine operations surrounding Cuba. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, Wood County deployed to Southeast Asia, where it supported amphibious operations, logistics, and troop movements. • Support for NASA: In the 1960s, the Wood County was involved in supporting NASA's space missions, including acting as a recovery ship for unmanned space capsules during test launches off the Florida coast. • Operation Steel Pike I: In 1964, Wood County participated in Operation Steel Pike I, the largest amphibious exercise conducted in peacetime, which took place off the coast of Spain. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship was involved in humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief and evacuation operations, demonstrating the versatility of LSTs in non-combat roles. • Decommissioned in 1972: After over a decade of service, Wood County was decommissioned on 1 November 1972 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977. • Final Fate – Sunk as a Target: In 1979, the USS Wood County met her end as a target ship, being sunk during a weapons test exercise, a common fate for many decommissioned Navy vessels.