BELLE GROVE LSD 2
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.
Originally authorized as Mechanized Artillery Transport (APM) Reclassified Landing Ship Dock (LSD) July 1 1941 Keel Laid October 27 1942 - Launched February 17 1943 |
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This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each name of the ship (for example, Bushnell AG-32 / Sumner AGS-5 are different names for the same ship so there should be one set of pages for Bushnell and one set for Sumner). 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.
- Covers Page 1 (1944-68)
Postmarks
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. 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.
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Postmark Type |
Date From to Date To |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
|---|
1st Commissioning August 9 1943 to August 30 1946
|
Locy Type |
1945-03-01 |
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Censored wartime (WWII) use
|
Locy Type |
1944-09-25 |
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Censored wartime (WWII) use
|
Locy Type P |
1946-05-06
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Note:
2nd Commissioning December 27 1950 to November 12 1969
|
Locy Type |
1956-12-31 |
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Territory of Hawaii cachet by George V. Sadworth. The ship was at Long Beach CA at this time.
|
Locy Type |
1968-12-25 |
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Christmas, cachet by E-F Cachets
|
Locy Type |
1956-12-31 |
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Territory of Hawaii cachet by George V. Sadworth. The ship was at Long Beach CA at this time.
Other Information
BELLE GROVE earned 7 Battle Stars (WWII)
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Gilbert Islands operation, Makin Island, November - December 1943
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Marshall Islands operation, Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, January - February 1944
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Marianas operation, Capture and occupation of Saipan, June 1944
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Tinian capture and occupation, July 1944
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Leyte operation, Leyte Gulf landings, October 1944
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Luzon operation, Lingayen Gulf landings - Abuyo and San Pedro Bay, January 1945
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Iwo Jima operation, Assault and capture of Iwo Jima, February - March 1945
Earned 7 Campaign Stars (Vietnam)
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Vietnam Defense, July - October 1965
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Vietnamese Counteroffensive, February - April 1966
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Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II, October - November 1966
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Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III, September 1967 - January 1968
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Tet Counteroffensive, February 1968
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Tet69/Counteroffensive, March - June 1969
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Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969, June - August 1969
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons...
China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 3-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
NAMESAKE - The site of a home and plantation in King George County, Va., the birthplace of President James Madison
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.
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