USS El Paso (LKA 117)

USS El Paso (AKA-117/LKA-117) is a Charleston class amphibious cargo ship named after the city of El Paso, Texas. She served as a commissioned ship for 24 years and 3 months.

She was laid down as AKA-117 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA on 22 October 1968, and redesignated LKA-117 on 1 January 1969. She was launched on 17 May 1969, and commissioned on 17 January 1970.

El Paso was not involved in the Vietnam War.

In 1993 El Paso deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, and participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

She was decommissioned on 21 April 1994. She is berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, PA.

The ship earned several awards and campaign ribbons for her service.

Unofficial ship's motto (1977–1982): "You Call, We Haul – N-o-o-o Problem!" (1983) "El Barco Magnifico," (1984-85) "Professional and Proud of It." Ship's official nickname (1975–86): "El Barco Magnifico"

The ship deployed to Beirut Lebanon on May 11, 1983 in support of United States Marines ashore. Captain Andrew J. Conklin commanding. LCDR then CDR (Select) John M. Carter was the ship's executive officer during this deployment and BMCM(SW) James Dutcher served as Command Master Chief. CDR Carter was later promoted to Captain and served as a commanding officer.

Once on station, the ship remained at anchor, off the coast of Beirut, for seven (7) months during this deployment with only two short liberty port visits. The first was Catania, Sicily, the other Antalya, Turkey. Both port visits were of short duration (three days). For recreation while at anchor, the crew participated in "FISHEX" events. These usually occurred during Sunday's "Holiday Routine." A Mike-8 boat would be lowered into the water, numerous sailors would board the vessel which contained several 50-gallon drums filled with ice and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. A typical FISHEX would last several hours. Rarely was any fishing ever accomplished during these excursions. Marines ashore brought laundry aboard, obtained supplies and considered the food, air conditioning and peacefulness aboard El Paso a welcome relief from duty ashore at the Beirut International Airport. Likewise, Sailors went ashore to play volleyball with the Marines, drink Jack Daniels whiskey and enjoy company with them. Later in the deployment, the ship's company assisted in the evacuation of the killed and injured following the terrorist bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks on Oct. 23, 1983. Just prior-to the explosion that morning, a small fire erupted in El Paso's crew galley. The crew was mustered on the flight deck as the fire party responded to the fire. During the muster, the massive explosion occurred at the Marine barracks and the large plume of smoke that followed could be clearly seen by the entire crew from the ship's flight deck. The ship immediately went to General Quarters for the duration of the casualty ashore.

The ship had a closed circuit television station located directly across from the ship's library. During Beirut operations and while underway, broadcast programming was provided to the crew by the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) Los Angeles on video cassettes which were transported from ship-to-ship in the "circuit." The programming was enhanced with nightly newscasts read by the ship's journalist, using a library of AP slides that regularly came by mail. Copy for the newscasts was obtained from the Associated Press wire service daily, which fed to radio central. Copy was "ripped and read" every evening at 6 p.m., prior to the airing of the usual fare of 80s programming. Broadcast hours were 1600-2200 (taps) nightly.

The ship returned to Norfolk on December 8 under cold, overcast skies. The mood of the crew and the families on the pier was sad and solemn.

Captain Conklin died at West Point, Va., on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 at age 75. He served at sea for 34 years and in addition to his Naval service, he was licensed as an Unlimited Master in the United States Merchant Marine, where he served for 12 years in USNS vessels. He is buried at Arlington (Virginia) National Cemetery.

In 1984, the ship participated in "Teamwork '84," deploying on February 14. The ship onloaded Marines Feb. 16–18 in Wilmington, N.C. then transited to Malangen Fjord, Norway, in support of a multinational amphibious operation. Liberty ports followed in Trondheim (Norway), Rotterdam (Holland) and Portsmouth (England). Captain Carl V. Lind, an S-2 Naval Aviator, commanding.

Roy Cash, nephew of singer Johnny Cash and father of Miss America 1987 winner Kellye Cash, served as her captain from August 1985 to March 1987.

Breakaway song: "El Paso", by Marty Robbins.

There is no known DANFS entry for the ship.