The USS Whidbey Island rests silently. A giant of steel now in retirement. She’s a veteran of countless missions. A vessel steeped in history.
This magnificent ship. The USS Whidbey Island. She wasn’t just any ship. She was the lead ship of her class. The first to bear the name Whidbey Island. Named for the long island in Washington’s Puget Sound. The island’s name itself honors Lieutenant Joseph Whidbey. A member of a British expedition that explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1790s.
Built by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle. The USS Whidbey Island was launched in 1983. Commissioned into service in 1985. Her keel was laid in 1981. Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman signed the keel himself. A significant event as it was the first amphibious ship keel laid in over five years. The ship’s sponsor was Mrs Sally Gorton wife of Senator Slade Gorton.
The USS Whidbey Island’s design was revolutionary. Specifically built to work with the Navy’s new Landing Craft Air Cushion the LCAC. These revolutionary craft allowed for a quantum leap in amphibious warfare. The ship participated in the LCAC’s operational and developmental testing.
Her service was extensive. The USS Whidbey Island served in the Mediterranean. She participated in NATO exercises and acted as a Presidential support ship. She deployed to the Caribbean for Hurricane Hugo relief. She served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Sharp Edge. She made history operating in the Black Sea. Visiting ports in Turkey Romania and Bulgaria becoming the first US amphibious ship to do so. The USS Whidbey Island also supported Operation Enduring Freedom. She participated in non-combatant evacuations. Assisting in the largest such operation since the Vietnam War. She even assisted a ship released by Somali pirates.
Throughout her 37 years of service the USS Whidbey Island’s crew demonstrated excellence and courage. The ship’s coat of arms reflects this. The dark blue and white represent the sea. The green represents the island’s terrain. Gold symbolizes excellence. The ship’s wheel shows pride and professionalism. The green Maltese Cross honors the humanitarian work of an earlier ship bearing the same name. The winged trident symbolizes the revolutionary amphibious warfare capabilities of the USS Whidbey Island.
Now decommissioned. The USS Whidbey Island sits here in Philadelphia. A testament to her long and impactful service. A silent sentinel a reminder of her vital role in naval history. A ship whose legacy continues. Her story etched in steel.