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USS Comstock (LSD-45) was commissioned on 3 February 1990. Since that date, USS Comstock has completed three extended deployments to the Western Pacific and the Middle East Forces, and has completed one deployment to the Southern Pacific conducting counter narcotic operations.

In December, 1995 Comstock returned from an extended deployment to the Arabian Gulf in continued support of United Nations and United States policies for that region. Among the highlights of the deployment were integrated amphibious operations with the Jordanian Armed Forces during Operation Infinite Moonlight.

On 5 June 1996, Comstock returned pier-side Naval Station San Diego and began upkeep and training. Upkeep continued throughout the months of July, August, and September. In October, Comstock got underway for NORTHPAC, embarking NROTC students and making a port visit to San Francisco for Fleet Week. Comstock returned to San Diego at the end of October to resume upkeep, finishing out the year with an Intermediate Maintenance Availability in late November.

Comstock remained in the San Diego area doing operations off the coast of Southern California until mid-April 1997 when the ship made a port visit to Cabo San Lucas. Comstock was in port San Diego in a training and upkeep status for the months of May, June, July and the beginning of August. 28 August 1997, Comstock began her track toward the Arabian Gulf for Western Pacific Deployment. Comstock made port visits to Hawaii, Guam, Singapore, Thailand, Bahrain, and UAE. Comstock was a vital part of exercise EAGER MACE, and finished out the year of 1997 in the North Arabian Gulf.

Comstock began the year of 1998 in the North Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Eager Mace. The end of WESTPAC 1998 brought port visits to India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Guam and Hawaii, enroute to San Diego. Comstock returned to home port San Diego on 27 February 1998. In April Comstock began INSURV. After INSURV, Comstock made a port visit to San Francisco. Once back in port San Diego, Comstock began the PMA which continued from May to July. Comstock made port visits to Everett and Seattle Washington. Comstock finished out the year with a Change of Command, followed by upkeep and training.

Comstock began 1999 with Amphibious Specialty Training during the month of January, followed by pre-deployment work-ups. At the end of May, Comstock was enroute to Hawaii as she began CARAT 1999. During deployment Comstock made port visits to Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia before returning to San Diego at the beginning of October. Comstock finished out the year with a post-deployment PMA period.

Comstock began 2001 with Amphibious Specialty Training and an Amphibious Readiness Group Certification. In March, Comstock was enroute to San Francisco for Exercise Kernel Blitz. During the months of May and June Comstock participated in COMPTUEX and FLEETEX. Comstock was enroute to Hawaii mid-August for the beginning of WESTPAC 2001. Comstock made port visits to Hawaii, Australia, and Bahrain and was part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Comstock began 2002 mid WESTPAC 01, with Operation Enduring Freedom. She made port visits to Fremantle and Sydney Australia and had a Change of Command end of January. By mid-March Comstock was back in home port San Diego for post-deployment upkeep. May and June, Comstock was dry-docked at Southwest Marine. In July, Comstock commenced Sea Trials, and the months of August – December, Comstock began upkeep, training, and certifications.

Comstock began 2003 with a Surge Deployment to the Arabian Gulf. Comstock made port visits to Guam, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Hawaii and was part of Operations Iraqi Freedom and MERO. Early July, Comstock was back in port San Diego for upkeep and training. Comstock commenced INSURV at the end of August. Comstock made a port visit to British Columbia, Canada beginning of September. Comstock finished out the year with a Change of Command at the end of October, followed my upkeep and training.

Comstock began 2008 with a CMAV, 3M Assessment, and INSURV. February through June Comstock was underway various times off the coast of Southern California for training and certifications. In June, Comstock commenced RIMPAC 2008 making port visits in Hawaii. Early August, Comstock was back in San Diego for upkeep, LTT and INSURV preparations. Comstock finished out 2008 with INSURV, CERTEX, and ULTRA-E.

Comstock is a “can do” ship with “can do” Sailors and Marines. The ship was the first USN combatant to have a fully integrated crew of male and female sailors.

Sailors on Comstock have seen the world with port visits to the tropical climes and Asian shopping extravaganzas with stops in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Her extensive tours in the Arabian Gulf have been highlighted by visiting such ports as: Aquaba, Jordan; Manama, Bahrain; Kuwait City, Kuwait; and Jebel Ali, United Emirates. Other popular ports of call for Comstock have included: Mombasa, Kenya; Seychelles; Perth, Australia; and Hawaii. Not all the good liberty ports are overseas, however, some of the best visits have been to some of America’s fine west coast cities, such as San Francisco and Monterey, California.

1st USS Comstock

The first Comstock (LSD-19) was launched 28 April 1945 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and commissioned 2 July 1945, with Lieutenant Commander J. C. Rochester, USNR, as the first commanding officer.

USS Comstock sailed arrived at Okinawa 20 October 1945 to join in the occupation activities of amphibious forces in China and Japan. She served in the Far East until conversion to a boat pool ship on 26 May 1946.

From November 1947-May 1948 Comstock furnished boat pool services to Joint Task Force 7 for Operation "Sandstone," the atomic weapons tests at Eniwetok. She then served in local west coast operations and had six brief tours of duty in the western Pacific until the outbreak of the Korean war.

Comstock arrived at Sasebo, Japan on 12 August 1950 to support the United Nations operations in Korea. She participated in the initial invasion at Inchon on 15 September 1950 and saw action during the invasion of Wonsan on 26 October. In 1951 she was assigned as flagship for Mine Squadron 3 wherein she furnished gunfire cover, logistic support, rescue support and furnished landing craft for various operations.

USS Comstock sailed in Korean waters on three more deployments during the war, serving for most of each with Mine Squadron 3. In 1954 she participated in Operation "Passage to Freedom," the evacuation of Indo-Chinese civilians from Haiphong in Communist North Vietnam. In May 1955 she joined the Surface Support Unit for Operation "Wigwam," an underwater atomic test off the coast of southern California.

Between that time and December 1960, Comstock returned to the Far East and the islands of the western Pacific for duty in 1956-57, 1957-58, 1959, and 1960. While on the west coast, she frequently operated in amphibious exercises with marines.

Comstock received 10 battle stars for Korean War service, the most awarded to a ship of this type. She received a Meritorious Unit Commendation and six battle stars for Vietnam War service. Now her successor, LSD 45, continues the rich naval tradition associated with the name Comstock.

For more detailed history on the first USS Comstock visit the Navy Archive page at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c12/comstock.htm.