Former USS LST-1010
Call Sign November-Kilo-Oscar-Oscar
LST-1010 was an LST-542-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy.
LST-1010 was laid down on 22 February 1944 at Quincy, MA, by the Bethlehem Steel Co.; launched on 29 March 1944; and commissioned on 25 April 1944, LT R.B. Cook USNR in command.
Upon completion, LST-1010 was assigned to the European theatre and participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August 1944. She was then assigned to the Asia-Pacific and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa in May and June 1945.
LST-1010 departed Okinawa for the Philippines arriving at Leyte, 27 June 1945. While in the Philippines she serviced several other islands, including Mindoro and Luzon. The ship then departed for Okinawa arriving 4 August 1945 and returning to the Philippines, 17 August. While at Batangas Bay, Luzon the ship was informed that the war had ended. LST-1010 sailed for Japan, 6 September 1945, for occupation duty returning to the Philippines in November and then back to Japan. A short occupation occurred in Korea in May 1946 and then back to Japan through June 16, 1946.
LST-1010 earned two battle stars for World War II service.
LST-1010 was decommissioned and transferred to the United States Army on 4 April 1947. She was returned to USN custody on 1 March 1950, and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
She was transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy on loan on 22 March 1955, where she served as Un Bong (LST-807), her side number changing again to LST-671 on 1 June 1978.
Un bong was assigned to the Vietnam war, leaving Incheon on 1 February 1966, and reaching Cam Ranh on 12 February 1966. By 24 October she had transported troops and military supplies nine times to Nha Trang. She was dispatched to Vietnam a further six times until December 1972, supporting South Korean troops’ rearguard operations.
Un bong was purchased by the ROKN in 1974, and struck from the US Naval Register on 15 November 1974.
She was decommissioned by the ROKN on 28 December 2006. In May 2007 Un bong was selected to preserved at Gimpo, and she opened to the public on 16 September 2010 at Gimpo Marine Park.
Note that due to the vagaries of Korean transliteration, this vessel is sometimes referred to as Un Pong or Unbong.
Image and write-up by David Chessum
