1944: The Commissioning of a U.S. Navy Dock Landing Ship

January 29, 1944

With the United States still very much embroiled in World War II, the amphibious dock landing ship USS White Marsh (LSD-8) was first commissioned into the U.S. Navy. This ship was named after an unincorporated community in southeastern Virginia. White Marsh’s biggest claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of Walter Reed (1851-1902), a U.S. Army physician who achieved renown for helping to conquer yellow fever.

USS White Marsch was commissioned just a little over six months after she had been launched at the Moore Dry Dock Company shipyard in Oakland, California. At the time of her commissioning, she was placed under the command of USNR (U.S. Navy Reserve) Captain George H. Eppelman (1898-1971). He would remain commander of White Marsh until August 17, 1945.  

In March 1944, White March transported both passengers and landing craft to the then-U.S. Territory of Hawaii. She then spent much of the remainder of the war in the Pacific Theater. Along with delivering servicemen as well as cargo to various islands in that region of the globe, White Marsh was also used as a repair shop for damaged landing craft. This ship was awarded a total of four battle stars for her service during the war.

Following the end of World War II, White Marsh had a brief tour of duty with the Atlantic Fleet. She was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, in March 1946 and remained in reserve there over the next few years. White Marsh was recommissioned on November 8, 1950, as part of the Navy’s efforts to expand its active forces during the Korean War. This time around, the ship was placed under the command of Captain Cooper Buck Bright (1909-2007).

From the time she was placed back into commission to the early part of 1954, White Marsh served again with the Atlantic Fleet. She was then reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, where she was used for voyages to such ports as Yokosuka, Japan, and Hong Kong. White Marsh also took part in Navy amphibious exercises.

In September 1956, White Marsh was again decommissioned. During her subsequent tour of duty with the Navy’s Military Sea Transportation Service (now known as the Military Sealift Command), she was staffed by a civilian crew. White March was transferred on loan to the Taiwanese (Republic of China) Navy in November 1960 and renamed ROCS Chung Cheng (LSD-191) by this military branch. On January 1, 1977, the ship was permanently transferred to the Taiwanese Navy. She remained in service with this navy until 1984 and was scrapped the following year. (The accompanying photo of USS White Marsh was taken during the 1950s.)

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on the ship originally named USS White Marsh (LSD-8), please check out https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/12/1208.htm and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_White_Marsh