USS Peleliu (LHA-5)
The USS Peleliu (LHA-5) is a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, named after the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. Originally to be named Khe Sanh and then Da Nang, Peleliu was laid down in 1976 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 25 November 1978, sponsored by Peggy Hayward (wife of then-CNO Thomas B. Hayward), and commissioned 3 May 1980, Captain T. P. Scott in command. Peleliu immediately headed south, threading the Panama Canal and then crossing the Equator on 27 May, setting a new record for time between commissioning and entrance into the southern hemisphere, then proceeded to Long Beach, California. In November, 2001 the Peleliu delivered Marines to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On December 14, 2001, John Walker Lindh was transferred to the Peleliu from a Marine base in Afghanistan. As of 2004, Peleliu is homeported in San Diego.
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