The launching of the Hermitage 1956
Remembering FA Matthew Gibbs who was killed in action during the Vietnam Cruise.
St. Elmo's Pool Hall. By Michael "Beatle" Newell
The day the Engine Room flooded. By Gene Wiehagen.
Crossing the Line. SoLANT AMITY Cruisebook. Pages from William and Martha Smith.
| Expanded. Jack Pusel's Vietnam Cruisebook |
Second act in exile. . . .
When the USS HERMITAGE reached the end of its service life, it was sold to the Brazilian Navy where it served for more than 25 years as the Ceara. It was decommissioned on 29 April 2016.
Read about life after death. 
The Original USS HERMITAGE (AP-54)
Ceara's mystery mission to Haiti
Hermitage in Brazil
Last Days of the Ceara
Julio Lemos: Last Photographs of the Ceara
"A cool, gray, drizzly day in Rio de Janiero"
CEARA DECOMMISSIONED ON 29 APRIL 2016
Lieutenant Ryan Andrews, USN, is participating in an exchange program with the Brazilian Navy. Here is his report of the decommissioning:
Unfortunately I was not able to attend the decommissioning ceremony after all. I was aboard my ship which was docked right next to Ceará at the time. It was a cool, gray, drizzly day here (Rio de Janeiro) during the ceremony. All of the crew assembled on her flight deck and the crews of the neighboring ships manned the rails as a sign of respect. Several admirals arrived to give speeches and to commemorate her service to the Brazilian Navy. At the conclusion of the ceremony the flags were lowered for the last time and quickly afterward her hull number and name were painted over with haze gray. She is still at BNRJ and her ultimate fate hasn't been decided, although I've heard rumors that she'll be sent for dismantlement and scrapping. Most of her useful equipment and parts have already been cannibalized, some of which went to my ship.
---RYAN ANDREWS, ryan.n.andrews@outlook.com
Link to website for Solant Amity I cruise of 1960-1961
Jack Pusel, featured in local newspaper, walked in father's shoes in the Phillipines
Frank Capps contributes Commissioning Booklet
Roy Gay on Basketball on SoLant Amity I
Frank Stack on SoLant Amity I
Frank Stack on GQ at Suez
Ernest Warren
Gary Goedken on "Hermy"
Operation Snowy Beach
New relics from Scott Eriksen
Bill Grubb photos WestPac 1967
Promotions in Vietnam---from Fred Gallagher
Banned from the head---from Ralph Van Horn
Don Kromer on changes to the Hermitage since Brazil
Ralph Van Horn: Soviet spy fight over the Hermitage
Don Atkinson: Soviets watch our exercises in Turkey
New Photos from Don Phillips
Change of Command booklet from 1987
Jack Pusel on a special storage locker
Gerald Horwitz on the commissioning
Deckplate musings from Gregory Hausler
USS HERMITAGE was the seventh THOMASTON - class dock landing ship. Decommissioned on October 2, 1989, the HERMITAGE was leased to Brazil the same day. There, the ship was recommissioned as CEARA. On January 24, 2001, the ship was finally purchased by Brazil.
Awarded: October 14, 1954
Keel laid: April 11, 1955
Launched: June 12, 1956
Commissioned: December 14, 1956
Decommissioned: October 2, 1989
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Propulsion system: two 600 psi boilers, two geared turbines
Propellers: two
Length: 510 feet (155.5 meters)]
Beam: 84 feet (25.6 meters)
Draft: 19 feet (5.8 meters)
Displacement: approx. 11,300 tons full load
Speed: 22 knots
Well deck capacity three LCU or nine LCM-8 or 50 AAV
Aircraft: help platform only
Crew: Ship: 18 officers, 330 enlisted
Crew: Marine Detachment: approx. 330 Marines
Armament: two dual 3-inch/50 caliber Mk-33 gun mounts
Source: Unofficial US Navy Site
Collision
Around 1986, an LST hit the Herm off South Carolina, and put a big ding in the her bow.
Panama 1964
Where else were we encouraged to wear white and khaki shorts. Photo courtesy of Mr. Chadwick, the XO. Jim Cullen reports that the
"Panama deployment was known by the famous PA call "Beer on the Pier," as there was no liberty (too dangerous). The pier, on a semi-deserted U.S. Army Special Forces base (surrounded by jungle) was as far as we were allowed. Lots of beer consumed on that pier with basketball court and music (probably all Frankie Valle/Four Seasons) on the PA system."
Teletype from the Hermitage
USS HERMITAGE ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE
John Papalia jpapalia@mac.com
Walt Kabis Walter.Kabis@gmail.com
Ted Waples selpaw@aol.com
Roger Tatum rptatum@comcast.net
Aaron Finestone aaron@themightyzed.com
Steve Mitchell Proforms@aol.com
Jim Cullen logpad@yahoo.com
Jerry Horwitz jerryhorwitz@me.com
Snail mail: 10097 Cleary Boulevard, No. 174, Plantation, Florida 33324
USSHermitageAssociation@gmail.com
Join now. For membership email Walt Kabis.
Facebook Groups: USS Hermitage Association / U.S.S. Hermitage (LSD-34)
Linkedin
ATTENTION ON DECK
Join the USS HERMITAGE ASSOCIATION. The annual DUE’S remain at $20.00 (additional donation’s accepted) payable to USS HERMITAGE ASSOCIATION, 10097 CLEARY BLVD #174, PLANTATION, FLORIDA 33324. If you have any question regarding your due’s please contact TED WAPLES 954-740-9136 (call or text) or selpaw@aol.com.
Any former Shipmate who has served on the USS Hermitage (1956-1989) and is not a member of The USS HERMITAGE ASSOCIATION can join their shipmates by sending $20.00 annual dues to the USS HERMITAGE ASSOCIATION at the address listed above. Please include (for our records) your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS, YEARS YOU SERVED ABOARD THE HERMITAGE and YOUR RATE or RANK.
Along with your dues please send any change in your status over the past year as we would like to keep our records current.
New Address _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone or Cell _______________________
E-Mail Address ______________________
If you have any question regarding your membership or dues. Please contact Ted Waples 954 740 9136 (call or text)
Reunion Founder C. J. DeHart has died.
Carol (C. J.) DeHart died on April 16, 2018 in Hazelton, Iowa. He was born on May 14, 1941 in Shooting Creek, North Carolina. On July 17, 1967 he was united in marriage with Julene Scheilhorn of Galena, Illinois. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy. C. J. and Julene started the USS HERMITAGE LSD-34 Reunion Association. He helped build the Veterans Park in Hazleton, Iowa. C. J. retired after 30 years of employment with John Deere. He helped with the forming of a Desert Storm support group and helped with the Veterans Park in Hazleton.
We will never forget C. J. and Julene and their contributions to our organization.
It was an honor to be able to start the USS Hermitage LSD-34 reunion group as we call it. We have meet so many wonderful people and enjoy seeing so much of the United States. We wish to thank the seven that are taking over and we are sure that they will do a beautiful job. Good job on the website too. All of the group will not be forgotten and we thank each one of the shipmates and wives that have made this USS Hermitage LSD-34 group possible. May God bless each of you and everyone of you!
---C. J. and Julene DeHart
Click to
Aaron Finestone's photo collection
To me a dollar was a dollar in any language. It was my first night in the Argentine and I didn't know much about the local citizens, but I knew about American sailors, and I knew I better get out of there.
---Johnny Farrell in Gilda (1946)
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