The USS Jerome County (LST-848) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the Navy during World War II, laid down and launched in 1944, and commissioned a year later. Following shakedown, the ship engaged in amphibious exercises before sailing to the Marianas, where she shuttled troops and equipment for the duration of World War II. Between 1945 and 1946, the landing ship was assigned to transport occupation forces in the Far East. She carried troops, vehicles, and cargo until her decommissioning in 1946. In 1955, she was named USS Jerome County (LST-848). Between 1959 and 1965, the vessel was recommissioned and departed for mid-Pacific missile operations. During the Vietnam War, she supported U.S. operations in Asia, shuttling supplies, ammunition, and equipment in and out of the war zone. The USS Jerome County earned five battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her wartime services. She was decommissioned in 1970 and leased to South Vietnam. Asbestos fibers are toxic because they can pass through the body's natural filtration system and, after embedding inside the organs, they can lead to cancer decades after the initial exposure. Veterans who have been harmed by asbestos may be eligible for benefits and compensation.
760-621-6147
