USS Outagamie County (LST-1073)

The USS Outagamie County (LST-1073) was one of the United States Navy’s venerable LST-542-class tank landing ships. These vessels, which saw action in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, served as amphibious assault ships by landing troops and vehicles directly onto enemy beaches. The USS Outagamie County was built in 1945 by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard in Hingham, Massachusetts and commissioned on April 17, 1945.

World War II Service

The vessel remained on the east coast for six weeks following her commissioning, after which time she departed for the Pacific Theater. The LST arrived in the Pacific in late June, which was too late to see any combat action during World War II. Instead, the Outagamie County spent the waning months of the war making supply runs between American bases in the western Pacific. The ship remained in the Pacific for the rest of 1945, and in early 1946 the LST was ordered to report to San Francisco.

Service and Overhaul After World War II

Once the Outagamie County arrived in California the Navy placed her into a pre-inactivation overhaul. This overhaul prepared the vessel for her upcoming stint in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. As part of the process, shipyard crews removed the LST’s nonessential equipment, which may have exposed those working in the area to asbestos. The removal of any material could have damaged asbestos-containing products onboard.  

Korean War Service

On August 5, 1946, the USS Outagamie County reported to Astoria, Oregon for decommissioning. The LST remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet for the next four years, but the outbreak of the Korean War forced the Navy to recommission the ship. In early 1951, the USS Outagamie County deployed to Korea where she spent the next 10 months in the various combat zones. The ship made a second deployment to Korea in 1953 and over the course of her two deployments the Outagamie County earned a total of six Navy battle stars.

Vietnam War Service

The vessel served with the Pacific Fleet in a peacetime capacity for the next 10 years, but the onset of the Vietnam War brought her back into combat. While in Vietnam, the Outagamie County performed the dangerous, yet vital role of riverine support boat. These vessels operated throughout Vietnam’s river systems and were frequently attacked by Viet Cong forces. The Outagamie County remained in active duty with the Pacific Fleet until 1971, and over the course of her service in Vietnam she earned eight battle stars. In 1973, the Outagamie County was decommissioned and sold to the Brazilian Navy.

Asbestos Risks

Navy veterans are at a particularly high risk for developing an asbestos-related disease because the majority of ships that were constructed for World War II and after contained asbestos-laden materials. Shipyard workers faced their greatest risk of asbestos exposure while performing routine overhauls and upgrades for military ships. During these overhauls, materials made with asbestos were often torn apart and removed from the vessel, enabling asbestos fibers to become airborne.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers is one of the primary causes of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects about 3,000 Americans each year. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they typically become lodged in the lining of the lungs and remain there for several decades. Later in life, these fibers can cause irritations that have the potential to develop into cancerous mesothelioma tumors. Unfortunately, the severe latency period associated with this cancer often causes patients to become diagnosed during the advanced stages of development and at a time when treatment options are limited.

If you or a loved one have contracted or passed away from mesothelioma cancer after being exposed to asbestos, you may have legal options for compensation to help pay for treatments and other expenses. For more information about this and treatment options available for mesothelioma patients, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet in the mail.

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Auxiliary Vessels Index