>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 4, p.81.





LEE COUNTY





	Counties in 12 Southern and Midwestern States.





LST-888

Displacement:  1,625 t.

Length:  328’

Beam:  50’

Draft:  14’1”

Speed:  12 k.

Complement:  119

Armament:  8 40mm; 12 20mm

Class:  LST-511





	LST-888 was laid down by Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., 

11 August 1944; launched 14 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. 

Richard Connell; and commissioned at New Orleans, La., 

13 November 1944, Lt. Walter V. Harlin in command.



	After shakedown and training off Panama City, Fla., 

LST-888 departed New Orleans 14 December for duty in the 

western Pacific.  Steaming via the Panama Canal and San 

Diego, she arrived Pearl Harbor 16 January 1945 and there 

embarked Army troops and vehicles before sailing for the 

Philippines the 27th.  She arrived Leyte Gulf via Eniwetok 

25 February and joined in intensive preparations for the 

decisive amphibious operations in the Ryukyu Islands.



	LST-888 departed in convoy from Leyte Gulf 19 March, 

and a week later she reached the Kerama Retto to debark 

troops at Geruma Shima and Tokashiki Jima.  Following the 

invasion of Okinawa 1 April, she sailed for Ulithi the 29th 

after completing supply operations out of Ie Shima.  She 

reached Ulithi 5 May, and during the remainder of the war, 

she made supply runs which carried her to Okinawa, Iwo Jima, 

Saipan, and Guam.



	Departing Saipan 14 September, LST-888 steamed to 

Sasebo, Japan, where she arrived 22 September to support 

occupation operations on Kyushu.  She operated out of Sasebo 

and Nagasaki during the next 6 months; and, after steaming 

to Yokohama, she sailed for the United States 11 April 1946.  

Touching at Guam and Pearl Harbor, she reached San Francisco 

27 May; in July, she sailed for the east coast and began 

limited coastal operations out of Little Creek,. Va.



	LST-888 decommissioned at Charleston, S.C., 2 September 

1946 and was towed to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she 

entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.  Named LEE COUNTY 1 July 

1955, she was approved for disposal 21 September 1960 and 

was sold to Gulf Tampa Drydock, Inc., Tampa, Fla., 18 April 

1961.  She was towed away for scrapping on 11 May 1961.



	LST-888 received one battle star for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com