USS Inchon

Accident

On 5 February 1980, while involved in an underway refueling with USS Spiegel Grove in the Atlantic, the two vessels collided, with Inchon's helicopter elevator ripping through a Marine berthing space on Spiegel Grove and destroying one of that ship's 50-ton cranes. There were no injuries, however.

Multinational Force - Beirut, Lebanon

In October 1982, Inchon, flagship of Amphibious Squadron 6, relieved the 32d MAU on station in Beirut, Lebanon. For their service, the ships of MARG 3-82 were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Expeditionary Medal.

The Citation for the Navy Unit Commendation reads:

For exceptionally meritorious service from 29 October 1982 to 15 February 1983 in a mission of great national and international importance while serving as the United States Forces Ashore Lebanon and supporting forces of the Multinational Force peace initiatives in Lebanon. on 29 October 1982, Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-82 and Marine Amphibious Unit 24 conducted a combined surface and helo landing across Black Beach and the International Airport of Beirut, Lebanon and immediately commenced coordinated motorized and foot patrols with other Multinational Force contingents throughout the City of Beirut. Simultaneously with operations ashore, Amphibious Task Force helicopters provided special support to the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and special Presidential envoys, and provided major logistics lifts from Air Support Head at Larnaca, Cyprus, to Beirut. Their superior performance and tireless devotion contributed significantly to the national objectives of world peace and Middle East stability. By their resolute determination, unrelenting perseverance, and steadfast dedication to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-82 and Marine Amphibious Unit 24 reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Detailed history of the MNF mission during this deployment:

Redesignation and fate

Inchon was redesignated a Mine Countermeasures Command and Support Ship, MCS-12, 6 March 1995, and converted at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula between March 1995 and 28 May 1996. She was assigned to the Active Naval Reserve Force, 30 September 1996.

On 19 October 2001 Inchon suffered an oil fire in the main boiler room while conducting inport steaming for engineering trials and assessments. A fuel oil leak had sprung from a faulty gasket on one of the main fuel pumps. This resulted in fuel oil leaking into the bilge. At some unknown point the bilge caught fire. The actual cause of the ignition to the fuel oil remains unknown. The entire bilge caught fire, and the space immediately filled with smoke. Of the nine enlisted men operating in the space, eight made it out. Petty Officer Third Class Ronnie Joe Palm Jr. of Houston, succumbed to smoke inhalation just after helping one of his fellow sailors escape. He was posthumously awarded for his heroism with the highest peacetime honor the Navy could bestow, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

Since severe damage occurred to her boiler plant the Navy made the decision at that time to decommission rather than repair her. Inchon was decommissioned, 20 June 2002, at NS Ingleside, Texas.

She was laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 24 May 2004 and sunk on 5 December 2004 at 36°42′30″N 71°40′0″W, in 2,150 fathoms (3.9 km) of water, 207 nautical miles (383 km) east of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

List of awards, citations and campaign ribbons