BELLEAU WOOD LHA 3

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) Keel Laid March 5 1973 - Launched April 11 1977 Christened June 11 1977 USS BELLEAU WOOD LHA-3 Commissioned September 23 1978 - Decommissioned October 28 2005 Sunk as target July 10 2006

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. Covers Page 1    (1973-2005)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (USS) USS Fort Snelling LSD-30

1973-03-02

Keel Laying, cachet by Fredeick L. Karcher

---

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n+)

1978-09-23

Cachet Category Commissioning Day. Cachet Makers Rich Hoffner and Stephen Decatur Chapter No.4

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n+)

1978-09-23

Cachet Category Commissioning Day. Cachet Makers Rich Hoffner and Stephen Decatur Chapter No.4

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n+)

1978-09-23

Cachet Category Commissioning Day, cachet by Decatur Chapter No.4

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS) 1978

1978-10-09

Homeport Arrival - San Diego, CA - Ship's cachet

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS) 1978

1978-10-27

Note:

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (D1,USS)

1986-01-02

Note:

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS) 1988

1997-09-19

Official Ship's Cachet

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (USS)

1988-12-06

Note:

 

Locy Type 7-2t (FPO 96623)

1990-07-19

Note:

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USS)

1997-09-19

Official Ship's Cachet

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+) (USS)

1990-07-19

Note:

 

Locy Type Meter OFR2 (#520239) (ZIP 96623)

1990-07-19

Note:

 

Locy Type Meter OFR2 (#520328) (ZIP 96623)

1992-09-14

N/A

On Piece

 

Other Information

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons...
Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (13 stars) - Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Boat People, April 28 1981)

NAMESAKE - Named for Belleau Wood, near Chateau Thierry, France, the scene of a battle between the 4th Marine Brigade and elements of three German divisions June 1918. This was part of the larger Battle of the Aisne, launched on May 27 by Germany in the hopes of defeating French forces near Paris before significant American forces could arrive at the front. Although the operation had cost 4th Marine Brigade 4,719 casualties, and over 1,000 killed, the marines had proved their courage to both the French and the AEF. Heartened by the American performance, the French awarded the division's infantry brigades, including 4th Marine Brigade, unit citations for "gallant action" and officially renamed the wood Bois de la Brigade Marine

 

---

 

If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

---

Copyright 2024 Naval Cover Museum