To my shipmates that I served with from 6/80-8/83: I am thankful that I had
the opportunity to have steamed with you and my congratulations on a job well done! It was
truly a pleasure to serve with some of the United States Navy's best.... |
Before we begin, I'd like to mention that any sailor that put to sea aboard the USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) is hereby invited to 'help me out' when it comes to our ships' history. By this, I mean that I ask you folks to e-mail me anything that might be helpful in either correcting any mistakes I've made, or if you wish, add any colorful insights that you may have! I will probably either add any factual text to the appropriate location in the following data, or perhaps create a new "tidbits" type of page as a link off of this page. I thank all of you for your help, as I want this page to be the definitive USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) information page. All comments are welcome as to content, good or bad...Thanks! |
The USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) is named after the home and estate in Fremont, OH, of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States. (LSD-32; dp. 6,880; L. 510'; Dr. 19'; S. 21k; Cpl. 756; A. 123'; Cl. Thomaston)....
Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) was laid down on 7 September 1954 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.; launched on 10 November 1955; sponsored by Mrs. Webb C. Hayes; and commissioned on 8 June 1956, Capt. Saverio S. Fillipone in command.
Spiegel Grove headed for Hampton Roads and arrived at Norfolk, VA on 7 July. She headed for the Guantanamo Bay area for her shakedown cruise on 26 July and returned on 15 September. The ship was in the yards during October; and in November, she participated in amphibious exercises off Onslow Beach, NC.
On 9 January 1957, Spiegel Grove, with other ships of Transport Amphibious Squadron (TransPhibRon) 4, sailed from Morehead City, NC, with elements of the 6th Marines embarked, for a tour with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She returned to Norfolk on 3 June and operated along the east coast for the remainder of the year. In November, she transported 364 Army troops to Labrador. In January 1958, the LSD was deployed with her squadron to the 6th Fleet on an extended tour which did not end until; 6 October. On the 22nd, the Spiegel Grove was assigned to PhibRon 10, the new Fast Squadron. The years 1959 and 1960 saw the LSD participating in numerous operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean.
Spiegel Grove stood out of Norfolk in April 1961 with Task Force (TF) 88 for "Solant Amity II", a good-will tour to the African coast. The force carried tons of medical supplies, food and disaster supplies, toys, books and seed. During the 4 month cruise, the ships visited Gambia, Durban, the Malagasy Republic, the Seychelles Islands, Zanzibar, Kenya, the Union of South Africa, Togo and Gabon before returning to the United States on 8 September. She then entered Horne Brothers Shipyard, Newport News, VA, for an overhaul that was not completed until early January 1962.
Spiegel Grove conducted refresher training and then spent March and April in amphibious exercises in the Caribbean. In May, she took part in operations supporting Malcolm Scott Carpenter's manned space flight. In July and August she returned to the Caribbean for "Phibulex 2-62". On 1 December 1962, a tender availability period was begun to prepare the ship for "Solant Amity IV". The LSD loaded supplies during January 1963, and sailed, on 15 February, for her second good-will tour which lasted until late May. The ship steamed over 21,000 miles and visited 9 countries before returning home. Spiegel Grove next deployed to the Caribbean from July to September with PhibRon 8.
The landing ship has spent the greater part of her active service participating in amphibious exercises along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean. Spiegel Grove was deployed to the 6th Fleet from January to June 1964; 3 November 1966 to 11 May 1967; and from 17 April to 9 October 1971. She participated in Operation "Steel Pike I" off Spain in October 1964 and made a Midshipman cruise to England and Denmark in 1970.
1975: C.O. Cdr. John Avila, Jr. The Spiegel Grove became a member of ComPhibRon 8, 2nd Fleet. January and February were devoted to general upkeep. On 6 March, the ship was U/W to the Caribbean with Marines from Morehead City, NC. The Spiegel Grove participated in various operations, including Latredex 2-75, with the British Navy; Escort Tiger, Agate Punch, and Rum Punch with the British and Dutch navies.
The Spiegel Grove returned to Little Creek in late April and was U/W again to participate in exercises "Solid Shield '75".
The LSD's next assignment was to serve as Commander Amphibious Task Force for a reserve amphibious landing exercise in June. July was spent preparing for the ship's second Caribbean cruise of the year. On 5 August, the Caribbean Amphibious Ready Group 2-75 was terminated and Spiegel Grove became a member of the Atlantic Ready Group (LARG 2-75) under ComPhibRon 4.
On 6 August, the LSD deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and finally to Vieques, Puerto Rico where she conducted numerous training exercises. The ship returned to Little Creek on 29 August.
September saw the ship participating in a PhibRefTra. October and November were spent in port preparing for an upcoming Mediterranean deployment scheduled for January 1976.
The Spiegel Grove served as flagship for ComPhibRon 8 in December.
On 5 January 1976, the ship deployed to the Mediterranean with embarked UDT 21, Det 2 and ACU2, Det E; and USMC BLT 3.
The Spiegel Grove was a member of Task Force 61. The ship anchored in Augusta Bay, Italy on 27 January. On that same day, during a rain squall, the anchor chain of the merchant ship Honesty (of Panamanian registry), parted, and caused the merchant to drift and collide with the bow of the Spiegel Grove. Minor damage occurred to both ships, but no personnel were injured.
On the morning of 21 June, the LSD began the operation "Fluid Drive" - the evacuation of Lebanon. LCU 1654 was launched and 110 Americans along with 166 foreign nationals were evacuated to the Spiegel Grove.
The remainder of the deployment went well, and the ship returned to Little Creek on 15 July.
August and September saw the ship preparing for a six month overhaul. On 20 September, the ship got U/W for Yorktown to offload her ammunition. On 29 September, she was U/W for Baltimore, MD where she began her overhaul that would last throughout the remainder of the year.
In 1976, the Spiegel Grove earned the Amphibious Assault award and the CIC "E".
The USS Spiegel Grove remained in the Bethlehem Steel yards in Baltimore, MD for all of 1977. The Commanding Officer was Captain V.R. Bush. This overhaul included major modifications to the enlisted dining facility and galley. In addition, extensive work was accomplished in the main engineering space where a majority of equipment was overhauled.
The overhaul was completed on 27 January 1978. On 14 April, Cdr. J.C. Van Slyke, Jr. relieved Cpt. Bush.
On 19 May the ship deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for RefTra. On 18 July, the LSD sailed to Bermuda to participate in the special CNO project OMAT (Ocean Measurement & Array Technology). The Spiegel Grove returned to GTMO on 16 September to complete the RefTra.
The ship deployed to Panama City, FL to participate in another special CNO project working with the latest US Navy landing craft: JEFF "B" Assist craft. November and December 1978 were spent in Restricted Availability at port in Little Creek, VA.
January 1-10, 1979 were spent in port, Little Creek. Cdr. Van Slyke commanding. On 10 January, the ship deployed to the Mediterranean as part of MARG 1-79. This cruise went without a hitch, and the Spiegel Grove returned to port on 19 June and stood down until 13 August 1979. On that date she departed for Panama City, FL fro training with the experimental "JEFF" craft.
The remainder of 1979 was spent performing various amphibious exercises, including conducting LVT operations with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marine Reserve. The latter part of the year was spent preparing for the January 1980 Mediterranean deployment (MARG 1-80).
January 1980 was spent preparing for the upcoming deployment. On 30 January, the Spiegel Grove joined other ships of Amphibious Readiness Squadron Group 1-80, (USS Inchon, USS Austin, USS Spartanburg County, USS Fairfax County), under the command of ComPhibRon 6 - Captain Raymond Burris. (On 26 April, Captain E.W. Foote relieved Captain Burris).
During the successful Mediterranean deployment, the LSD took part in several amphibious operations including landings at Medonheria, Portugal; Garuch, Spain; Capo Teulada, Sardinia; Dogenby, Turkey and Brindisi, Italy.
On 19 May, Commander John N. McKay, Jr. relieved Commander J.C. Van Slyke, Jr. of command.
The LSD returned to Little Creek on 2 July, and stood down until 26 August when she deployed for "Teamwork 80". This operation included 60,000 personnel and 170 ships from nine NATO countries in the largest amphibious training exercise in history. This exercise took place on the Norwegian coast.
January 1981 was spent in port for general upkeep. In February, the LSD deployed to Charleston, SC to test the feasibility of loading out Mine Sweeping Boats in order to transport them worldwide.
On 8 March, the Spiegel Grove deployed with the USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27) to the Caribbean Sea to demonstrate US Naval presence in support of US policies in Latin America and the Caribbean areas. CincLantFlt (Adm. Harry Train) and ComNavSurfLant (V-Adm. J.D. Johnson) were embarked on Josephus Daniels.
During May, June and July, the ship participated in two operations. The first one was Exercise "Solid Shield '81", and the second one was "Operation Life Line II" - this one working with the US Army's 7th Transportation Group.
On 26 July, the Spiegel Grove entered the yards at Norfolk's NorShipCo Shipyard in Berkley for an extensive overhaul.
In addition to a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Spiegel Grove received the Energy Conservation Award from the Secretary of the Navy.
January and February 1982 saw the USS Spiegel Grove undergoing her overhaul in drydock. During March and April the Spiegel Grove became the first LSD-28 class ship to successfully complete a Propulsion Plant Examining Board Light-Off Exam.
In May, the ship completed her overhaul 2 months ahead of schedule and returned to port in Little Creek.
The next several months were filled with numerous tests, exercises and inspections The LSD was awarded her first Navy "E".
On 8 October, Commander Thomas Summerlin relieved Captain John McKay as Commanding Officer. Two days later, the Spiegel Grove was U/W for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training (RefTra).
RefTra was also completed ahead of schedule, and the ship was the first LSD-28 class ship to earn Operational Propulsion Plant Examination certification.
November saw the Spiegel Grove participating in amphibious refresher training and, during this reftra, she earned the highest scores ever recorded at amphibious refresher training.
From 1-19 January 1983, the Spiegel Grove was in port. On the 20th, she departed for "Operation Ahuas Tara/Kindle Liberty". Anchoring 29 January, at La Cieba, Honduras, the ship embarked 479 enlisted and 25 officers of the Honduran Army. An amphibious exercise took place near Puerto Lempira. The Honduran President and the Chief of Armed Forces were in attendance.
In February, the ship anchored in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal Zone, to conduct amphibious operations with the US Army.
March and April 1983 were spent in port. On 23 April, the ship participated in "Solid Shield '83". The ship returned to port on 4 May 1983. The remaining days of May 1983 were spent preparing for the upcoming "Unitas XXIV/WATC '83" deployment in June. On 15 June, the LSD departed for the annual good-will cruise. The first stop was Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico to rendezvous with the balance of the task force: the USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1079), the USS Connolly (DD-979) and the USS Scott (DDG-995).
The Spiegel Grove returned to Little Creek on 12 December for standdown and the holiday leave period. The ship also began preparing for an upcoming overseas movement (POM).
On 19 January 1985, Commander Richard McCarthy relieved Commander Summerlin as Commanding Officer. During the first couple of months, the ship prepared for an upcoming Mediterranean deployment. In mid-March, the ship began it's restricted availability repairs to the engineering spaces, mainly the feed pumps and forced draft blowers. Due to repair problems, the RAV was extended and the Mediterranean deployment was cancelled.
In early May 1985, the Spiegel Grove acted as host ship for the arrival of the newest LSD to Little Creek: the USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41).
A shipyard strike in late summer hampered ongoing repairs. In December, the sip began preparing for the February 1986 LOE.
January 1986 saw the Spiegel Grove receive departmental awards in Deck, Comms, and DC. The ship participated in LOE and sea trials in April. Mount 31 was replaced in April.
In June, the Spiegel Grove held a 30th birthday party commemorating the anniversary of the ship's commissioning date. The LSD won the Golden Anchor award in October.
Commander McCarthy was promoted to Captain in November, in December, the ship won the NavPhiBase Captain's Cup; the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In Weapons System was also installed as was the 4 Coffin Main Feed Pumps.
The main feed pump installation was completed in February 1986. In March, the ship deployed to Guantanamo Bay for RefTra. In May, the Spiegel Grove underwent Combat Systems Readiness Review (CSRR), and in June she deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of MARG 3-87.
In November, the Spiegel Grove returned to Little Creek. December was spent in standdown mode.
During the 1987 Mediterranean deployment, the Spiegel Grove became CTU 76.8.2, better known as ComPhibRon 32 as the mining of the Persian Gulf by Iran reconfigured the MARG deployment schedule.
Due to the extreme water temperatures in this part of the world, the Spiegel Grove lost both of her evaporators, and she had to shut down the boilers. The ship then performed a 'dead stick' maneuver alongside the USS Ponchatoula (TAO 148) for a fresh water transfer. The ship received a 'well done' from CTF 76, R-Adm Smith. The LSD was also designated as Top Operator during the MARG 87 deployment.
The USS Spiegel Grove (LSD 32) was decommissioned in 1989 and from that time until late 1996 she rested as part of the 'mothball fleet' in the James River in Newport News. It is her fate to be sunk as part of a piscine reef off Key Largo, Florida sometime in Spring-Summer 1997**. This will also provide a venue for divers as she will reside in approximately 110 feet of water. Her mast will be just 40' shy of the surface.
** The USS Spiegel Grove (LSD 32) was towed to the James River Reserve (JRR) site on 02/04/94. Title of the ship was turned over to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the ship was offered up to become part of the fishery reef program. It was supposed to be sunk off Key West, FL but there have been problems with the EPA with regards to clean up of toxic materials such as asbestos, PCBs and lubricants.
As of April 1998: Currently is that the ship is still at the fleet site awaiting the EPA to determine the best way to clean up the ship. The JRR is located near Fort Eustis, VA not far from Williamsburg.
5 May 1998: I received an e-mail from someone at one of the dive shops participating in the project in Key Largo, FL. He reports that the major hurdles (EPA imposed hazardous materials cleanup) that have prevented the ship from being sunk as a reef are now a thing of the past! Watch this page for additional information as it becomes available.
8 May 1998: It looks like it could be November '98 before the USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) is submerged in Key Largo. For continuing updates on our beloved ship, I invite you to visit my friend's site @:
31 July 1998: I'm still in contact with MARAD, the EPA & the diving team. Currently, they are still awaiting for the effects of El Nino to vanish....
| 11
September 1998: A group of eleven hardy souls trekked to the James River Reserve
Fleet in Ft. Eustis, VA for one last look at the USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) as she sits
awaiting her fate. In our group were my wife and my two sons, who have seen many pictures
of my ship and ports of call, but not the real thing. My kids got the day off from school
for the "ultimate field trip"! They had a blast and many of their questions were
answered while many more came to mind. (Now they know why dad is the way he is!!) The first thing I noticed was that she had a port list on, perhaps a few degrees or so, but very definitely a port list. All in all, we spent approximately an hour and a half combing her now dark and quiet passageways in search of our Navy past. Paint hung in off-white strands from the overheads, was rusted through on the bulkheads and the decks were littered with the debris of age and neglect. We were not permitted into the engineering spaces due to water, and other dangers. Nor were we permitted into the crew's berthing spaces below the water line for possibly the same reason. Paint chipped off in our hands as we grabbed handrails going up and down ladders. The haze-gray paint on her bulkheads was faded to almost white in places. Her hull numbers were painted over in black or dark gray as was her name, save for the portside aft, where "SPIEGEL GROVE" could partially be made out. Primary Flight Control (Pri-Fly) was locked and it's windows covered with metal. Cables, and rotted line lay about haphazardly, so one had to watch one's head as well as feet! (Man, the Bo'sun woulda been pissed!) The welldeck was moldy and plants had sprouted between the planks. Broken glass was strewn about as well as various pieces of metallic debris. Some of the hatches were welded shut, while others were off the posts. One of our party stepped into the messline prior to checking the deck...and was soaked to his ankle! The entire messline, and from what I could determine from the main passageway looking forward down the line, was under about a foot of water! Moments later we'd discover that the passageway outside of the 'E' Division offices were under water as well! Our boarding party consisted of a plankowner and a crewmember that decommissioned her back in '89. The author of this WEB site was present as well as folks from Ohio, Pennsylvania and the Tidewater region. Planning for this event goes back to this past April and we were limited to how many we could bring aboard, hence there was no notice published at the wish of the JRRF. I am sorry for not posting the information, but I invite folks to contact the James River Reserve Fleet in Ft. Eustis, VA to try and get a last look for yourselves. She'll be there until after hurricane season per her owners (a dive shop in FL). Those of us that made the trip took pictures, and mine are elsewhere on this site. I am expecting my good friend in PA to send me copies of his shots & I'll post them when I get them. Another highlite of the trip for me, was meeting, technically not for the first time, a former soldier, also a 'Kevin', who was stationed in Panama in the early 1980's. Well, after talking with him on our return trip to 'the beach', it turns out that his outfit was 'launched and landed' in an amphibious excercise with the USS Spiegel Grove - & as an OS, I was one of the guys that sent him off at H-Hour...in 1981!! Small world..... While I was prepared in advance that she 'was in real bad shape', and I expected it to some extent, it really hit home as I was leaving: this was it. No more Spiegel Grove. I have to keep in mind that when I left the ship in Valparaiso, Chile in 1983, I never figured I'd see her again, anyway... Again, too I think that I've come to grips with her fate: to be a reef; it's gotta be better that having her act as a target for some tin can or sub's missiles...
I URGE you to look back at the photo (prior to looking at the pictures of her today) at the top of this page and remember the USS Spiegel Groveas she was in her prime: sailing the high seas and protecting our country. Her history, but a brief blip in the world's timeline, was still flecked with importance, as were the histories of many of our ships. While she never served in a war other than the Cold War, were her services still not important? Yeah, it can be said....I love My Ship! |
14 September 1998: Received an e-mail from my friend in Key Largo - The ship was legally sold to the Chamber of Commerce in Key Largo, FL, but then was issued a "hold order" until the yard in Galveston has permits for storing liquid PCB's. The PCB's on the Spiegel Grove are all solid, however. Until the yard has the required permits for storing liquid PCB's, the ship will remain at James River Reserve Fleet in VA. The EPA is the issuing agency in this case, and had the permits been issued when they were to be issued, then the ship would have been moved to Texas for final strip-down.
13 May 1999: Received an update from my friend in Key Largo - The ship is now "officially" owned by the state of Florida. This means they can proceed as planned, but now have a new "snag". Whoever was going to tow the vessel for the Ocean Divers originally either can't or won't. It's going to cost almost $100,000.00 to get it moved to Brownsville for cleanup, according to the current estimates we are getting.
28 September 1999: The latest update is that the financial aspect of the ship's fate is taken care of, mostly from loans from the county, etc. Most likely the ship will be moved in either late October or early November 1999 to brownsville, Texas for final cleanup. Please stay tuned to this page!
Spiegel Grove's awards include:
18 Jul 1958 - 8 Aug 1958 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Lebanon)
23 Aug 1958 - 7 Sep 1958 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
14 Sep 1958 - 18 Sep 1958 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
24 Oct 1962 - 30 Nov 1962 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba)
19 Jul 1965 - 18 Sep 1966 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic)
25 Aug 1966 - 16 Sep 1966 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic)
3 Jan 1962 - 1 Mar 1962 Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba)
8 Feb 1962 - 5 Mar 1962 Navy Expeditionary Medal
19 Mar 1962 - 14 Mar 1962 Navy Expeditionary Medal
24 Jun 1962 - 24 Jul 1962 Navy Expeditionary Medal
20 Jun 1978 - Humanitarian Service Medal
8 Mar 1981 - 9 Apr 1981 Meritorious Unit Commendation
1 Oct 1980 - 30 Sep 1981 Navy 'E'
1 Oct 1981 - 30 Sep 1982 Navy 'E'
1 Oct 1982 - 30 Sep 1983 Navy 'E'
The awards count for the USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) is as follows: |
|
Awards |
Occurences |
US Navy Expeditionary Medal |
4 |
National Defense Service Medal |
1 |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
6 |
Humanitarian Service Medal |
1 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation |
1 |
US Navy 'E' |
3 |
Where it all began in 1954....
Anyone who has served aboard the USS Spiegel Grove (LSD
32), Sailor or embarked Marine, may join the
USS Spiegel Grove (LSD 32)
Reunion Association.
Contact:
... for further information. This includes all crews and embarked Marines from the 1956 Commissioning to the 1989 de-Commissioning. Plank Owners are especially welcome! Be sure to put Reunion Info on the SUBJECT line. Thanks.
Data compiled and verified by Kevin Flatley,
OS2, (OI Division/Operations Department) - US Navy.
Dates aboard: 6/80 - 8/83.
If you're not a Spiegel Grove sailor, have you ever wondered what happened to your ship? Well, the US Navy keeps track of that here.