Hi. My name is John Ashburn and from February of 1958 until June of 1961 I was a crewmember of the USS Talbot County (LST 1153). I recently became aware that there was very little information available on the Internet concerning my former duty station though I had acquired a sizeable amount from other sources. This site was created as a way of sharing that information with others who may be interested and as a platform for soliciting additional information from those who may have it and are interested in sharing. My email address is located throughout this site and any additional information available would be welcomed.
Also located within this site is a logbook that guests are encouraged to sign and and use to share your thoughts about this site, your military experiences, military life in general, or other comments of an appropriate nature. By signing you also make it possible for former shipmates to locate and contact you. This site is intended to commemorate a U.S. Navy vessel and her proud crew and logbook entries containing advertising, profanity, or other offensive content will be removed.
Join with me now, if you will, for a trip into yesteryear aboard a steam driven LST. Our voyage will begin in the year 1945 at the Boston Naval Shipyard and we’ll drop anchor in 1973 at Port Orange, Texas where the former USS Talbot County was removed from the mothball fleet and sold to a foreign company. Along the way it’s entirely possible that you’ll meet someone that you know or served with, perhaps a family member, an old friend, or possibly even the young man that you once were so many years ago.
Everyone ready? Ok then, let’s make all preparations for sea. Set the special sea and anchor detail, single up all lines. During this voyage and the remainder of your voyage through life may you be blessed with Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Scheduled for
The USS Talbot County (LST 1153) Association is a group of any and all who were assigned to duty aboard this ship, officer or enlisted, regardless of the dates or nature of their duty assignment. The current, and first, elected president of the association and chairman of our reunion committee is former Boiler Tender Milevoy Kotay. Milevoy and his wife Janet can be reached by email HERE or by snail mail at: 615 South 14th Ave.
Other reunion committee members are former Electricians Mate Donald Hepburn assisted by his wife Yvette and former Damage Controlman Joseph Topor assisted by his wife Mary. Don and Yvette can be contacted by email by clicking HERE and Joe and Mary can be emailed by clicking HERE
If you've served aboard this ship, or know of someone that has, please contact one of the committee members listed above or me at my email address found elsewhere within this site. Join with us at the next reunion for the experience of a lifetime!
Our most recent reunion took place on April 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2002 at the Best Western Village Inn in Pensacola, FL. Due to unforseen circumstances, which cropped up virtually at the last minute, I was unable to attend this reunion. I have received some photos from shipmates who were able to attend and intend to post them here soon.
During World War II the residents of Stanford, Connecticut raised enough money through the sale of War Bonds to pay for a Landing Ship Tank, hull number 1153. The keel of the LST 1153 was laid on July 19, 1945 at the Boston Naval Shipyard. At the height of wartime construction ships of this type took an average of ninety days from the laying of the keel to the launching of the completed ship.
Shortly after the keel of the LST 1153 was laid down the Allies accepted the surrender of the Japanese Empire, after having already defeated the Axis powers in Europe. The need for the LST 1153, it seemed, had disappeared and construction was suspended. After a lengthy delay construction was resumed and she was launched on April 24, 1947.
Left (Top) photo USS LST 1153 under Construction at the Boston Naval Shipyard - 1947. Right (Bottom) photo - USS LST 1153 during commissioning ceremonies - September 3, 1947 - Boston, Mass.(Both photos are from the U.S. Naval Historical Center Photo Archives.)
The USS LST 1153 was commissioned a unit of the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet on September 3, 1947. Mrs. Lena Mickelson sponsored her and it was the first, and namesake ship of its class, of which only two were built. Older, smaller LST's were considered slow although they were capable of filling the role for which they were designed. With a length of 382 feet, a beam of 54 feet, displacement of 6000 tons, and a top speed of 13 knots, the 1153 class of LST's brought about an increase in speed as well as a larger load capacity.
The USS LST 1153, and her sister ship the USS LST 1154 commissioned in 1949, were experimental in both propulsion and armament.
Armament consisted of two open 5" 38cal. gun mounts, one forward and one aft; two twin .40mm gun mounts and two .20mm gun mounts. The smaller, anti aircraft type guns were all mounted near the forward 5" 38cal mount.
Propulsion on these two experimental LST's was by the use of steam engines. The USS LST 1153 was equipped with a 450 PSI Babcock and Wilcox boiler and two engines, housed in two separate engine rooms. The forward engine room contained a Westinghouse Engine and the aft engine room housed an engine manfactured by General Electric. Fuel for the boiler was black oil. Like other LST's the 1153 and the 1154 were equipped with dual shafts and screws (propellers).
On September 21 1947 the USS LST 1153 reported to the Fleet Training Group at Norfolk to begin her shakedown cruise. She returned to Boston on October 24, 1947 for a post shakedown yard period and put to sea again on November 15th. Eleven days later, on November 26th, 1947, she arrived at her new homeport of Little Creek, Virginia.
Between 1947 and 1950 the USS LST 1153 participated in operations in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and was the Flagship for the Commander, LST Squadron Two during this period.
USS LST 1153 during a beaching exercise in Vieques, Puerto Rico
USS Talbot County (LST 1153)
A tribute to a lady ..................... and her men
Nearly everyone has friends ................. Only the very fortunate have shipmates!
September 16, 17, 18, 2004
at the Holiday Inn in Muskegon, Michigan
(www.holidayinnmuskegon.com)
Details to be announced.
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-273-6389
Our reunion for the year 2000 was held on April 14th & 15th of 2000 in Virginia Beach, VA. Please join us here and share in the fun.
Our 1998 reunion was held in October of that year in Wilmington, NC. Please join us
here for a trip down memory lane.
~ 1945 - 1949 ~
USS LST 1153 during sea trials in Boston harbor - August 25, 1947
(Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo Archives.)
.... ....
February 18, 1948(Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo Archives.)
Visit the years 1950 thru 1959 here.
Visit the years 1960 thru 1973 here.
Family Gram 1-59 has been added (finally)(my apologies Chris) and Family Gram 2-59 should be added shortly. Thanks for your patience.
Two "Family Grams" sent to the families of the ships crew in 1959 by LCDR E. V. Conger, Commanding Officer. Our thanks to former IC Electrician Chris Lewis for providing these most interesting documents and a special thanks to his mother for saving them all of these years.
Major Joseph McDonald USMC
Joe McDonald was a young man from my home town.
He went to a far-away land to do his duty in an unpopular war ............... and he never returned.
Please click on the link above and take a moment to learn about him.Links to other sites of interest.
The history of the LST
Photo Album Page 1
Photo Album Page 2
Photo Album Page 3
Photo Album Page 4
Photo Album Page 5
Photo Album Page 6
Photo Album Page 7
Photo Album Page 8
Photo Album Page 9
Photo Album Page 10
Photo Album Page 11
Photo Album Page 12
..Personnel Log - 1949
..Personnel Log - 1952
.. Personnel Log - 1955
.. Personnel Log - 1956
.. Personnel Log - 1957
.. Personnel Log - 1958
.. Personnel Log - 1959
.. Military Trivia..Family Gram 1-59..Family Gram 2-59
E-Mail
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to cross this quarterdeck since the counter was reset on June 9, 2001. Please return soon, and bring your friends.