"Great White Ghost" Decommissions in Norfolk
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050528-01
Release Date: 5/28/2005 9:00:00 AM
By Master Chief Journalist (SW) Kevin Copeland, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS La Salle (AGF 3) was formally “laid to rest” during a pierside decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, May 27.
Since 1994, La Salle had served as the flagship for Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, based in Gaeta, Italy.
“The USS La Salle has carried her message of democracy for 41 years, and she has done it masterfully,” said Rear Adm. Mark R. Milliken, director, Navy International Programs Office, guest speaker and former commanding officer of USS La Salle. “Today, we are not just decommissioning the “Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast,” we are saying thank you. Thank you to those who have served, and to those who will go on to serve in another capacity in this great Navy. For you are now, and forever will be, a part of history.
The ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Herman A. Shelanski, echoed the admiral’s comments, but also wanted to extend his appreciation to the crew.
“I want to thank the superb crew who successfully met all of its challenging commitments. They participated in numerous multinational exercises, countless days at sea conducting Maritime Intercept Operations, and they were essential to the defense of Athens against terrorist activity during the Summer Olympics," he said. "We’ve been as far away as Ireland and the Black Sea, where we improved relationships and fostered goodwill. This couldn’t have happened without the expertise and hard work of all of the La Salle Sailors."
La Salle was relieved of its flagship duties by USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) during a change of flagship ceremony in Gaeta, Feb. 25. The ship arrived in Norfolk March 17 for the decommissioning process.
Commissioned as an amphibious transport dock ship Feb. 22, 1964, USS La Salle (LPD 3) served as the flagship for Atlantic Amphibious Forces during the Dominican Crisis in 1965. In 1966, La Salle became the first ship of her size to successfully recover and return a Project Gemini space capsule to Cape Canaveral, Fla. After an extensive overhaul in Philadelphia in 1972, the ship was re-designated as a miscellaneous command ship (AGF), and assumed duties for Commander, Middle East Force. During this time, the ship was painted white to reflect the hot sun and was affectionately nicknamed, “The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast.”
In 1979, La Salle assisted in the evacuation of 260 American and foreign national civilians from the Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas, and subsequently became the focal point of U.S. activity in the Persian Gulf at the outset of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The ship returned stateside in late 1980 for the first time in almost nine years. After undergoing an extensive overhaul in Norfolk, La Salle returned to the Persian Gulf and became the flagship for Commander, Middle East Forces in June 1983. In 1984, the ship conducted mine sweeping operations in the Red Sea in response to attempts to disrupt shipping lanes, and in 1986, conducted contingency operations in the Gulf of Aden during Yemen’s civil war.
After the Iraqi missile attack on USS Stark (FFG 31) in May 1987, La Salle provided the primary fire fighting rescue assistance to the ship. During Operation Desert Shield, the ship assumed the responsibility of commanding and coordinating the multinational Maritime Intercept Force. Soon afterwards, La Salle returned to Norfolk to begin an overhaul to prepare it for duties as the 6th Fleet Flagship.
Since assuming those responsibilities Nov. 8, 1994, La Salle has been fully engaged in operations throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas in its role of supporting Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and Strike Force and Logistics South. In providing this operational support, the ship played a huge role in fostering goodwill and understanding between the United States and Western Asian, Middle Eastern and Southern European Mediterranean countries,
Following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, La Salle became fully engaged in the war on terrorism, serving as 6th Fleet’s big deck in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
One of the ship’s last major assignments was supporting NATO-led efforts to control the international waters off Greece during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
The ship has received 35 unit awards, including six Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals, six Navy “E” ribbons, four Armed Forces Service Medals, four Navy Unit Commendation Medals, three Navy Expeditionary Medals, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, one Combat Action Ribbon, one NATO Medal, one Kosovo Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
La Salle will be towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard early next week to await its final disposition.
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