USS Clarke County (LST-601)

The USS Clarke County (LST-601) was one of hundreds of tank landing ships that the U.S. Navy commissioned during World War II. The vessel and her sister LSTs served with the Navy in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The USS Clarke County was built in 1943 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois and commissioned on March 25, 1944. After her commissioning, the Clarke County was deployed for a brief shakedown and training cruise prior to being assigned to the European Theater. The Clarke County and her crew arrived in the Mediterranean in mid-1944 and engaged in combat shortly thereafter.

World War II and Korean War Service

Towards the end of summer in 1944, the Allies launched Operation Dragoon, an amphibious assault on southern France. The Clarke County played an important role in Operation Dragoon, successfully landing troops and vehicles in southern France over the course of two months. For her actions during Operation Dragoon, the Clarke County and her crew were awarded one World War II battle star.

Following the invasion of southern France, the Clarke County remained on station in the Mediterranean, serving out the remainder of the war with the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. While most of the Navy’s LSTs were decommissioned following the end of World War II, the Clarke County managed to avoid the Reserve Fleet and remained in active duty with the Navy through the end of the Korean War. Although she never participated in the Korean War, the Clarke County played an important role in maintaining the Navy’s presence in the Atlantic during that conflict.

In 1955, after 11 years of nearly continuous service, the Clarke County was ordered back to the United States for decommissioning. Before she could enter the Reserve Fleet, however, the Clarke County was forced to undergo a pre-inactivation overhaul. This extensive overhaul, which involved the removal of Clarke County’s nonessential equipment, undoubtedly exposed shipyard workers to asbestos. Workers completed the pre-inactivation preparations on the Clarke County in late 1955 and on November 23 she was officially decommissioned and placed into the Reserve Fleet.

Vietnam War Service

Eleven years after she was placed into mothballs, the Clarke County was recalled to active duty to assist with operations in Vietnam. The vessel was recommissioned on July 28, 1966 and first saw combat in Vietnam the following year. In late 1967, the Clarke County took heavy damage from the enemy, which may have caused asbestos fibers to release into the air.

The Clarke County was salvaged in December 1967 and she continued to serve in Vietnam until 1970, earning a total of six campaign stars and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for her actions during the war. Following the conclusion of her Vietnam service, the Clarke County was decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, and eventually sold to the Indonesian Navy.

Asbestos Risks

Asbestos was often used on ships such as the USS Clarke County in order to insulate and fireproof materials onboard. Unfortunately, using asbestos has caused thousands of past shipyard workers and crew members to develop asbestos-related diseases from being exposed to asbestos. Boiler rooms and engine rooms were two of the most common areas for asbestos exposure. In addition to these locations, pipes, walls and ceilings insulated with asbestos often exposed crew members as well.

Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several serious illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The latter is especially harmful due to the latency period for symptoms to arrive. In most cases, symptoms of mesothelioma can take as long as 20 to 50 years to develop, leaving patients completely unaware of their condition. By the time the majority of patients are diagnosed, the cancer has often reached the advanced stages of development.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs, lost income and any other expenses. For more information about compensation and treatment options, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet.

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Auxiliary Vessels Index