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Ashland, Henry Clay's Home

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Donated to the Henry Clay Estate in 1995, the bell was made for the first USS Ashland. The ship launched in 1942 and was in the Navy’s service until 1969. During World War II, the Ashland and its crew were awarded seven battle stars. The USS Ashland also served on missions in Korea from 1950-57 and for short periods in the Atlantic, Arctic, Caribbean, and the Mediterranean in the 1960s. This was the first ship to be named after the Ashland Estate, but another was launched in 1989. The bell is on display near the parking lot at the Ashland Estate and features a plaque with details of the ship’s service record.

USS Ashland, 1953

USS Ashland, 1953

The bell from the original USS Ashland

The bell from the original USS Ashland

Waves hitting USS Ashland during WWII

Waves hitting USS Ashland during WWII

The USS Ashland was first launched in 1942 and was in service for 23 years. As the first LSD (Landing Ship Dock) model, the ship was a part of the Navy’s amphibious transport fleet which was designed to carry land, sea, and air vehicles for battle. When the ship launched, World War II had already been underway for 3 years. The ship and crew quickly began a series of deliveries and training exercises and began assisting in combat by 1944. During the war, the ship was involved in battles at Tarawa, Tinian, Kwajalein, Iwo Jima, the Lingayen Gulf, Leyte, and Saipan and was awarded a battle star for each.  

After the end of World War II, the USS Ashland was out of commission and in reserve at San Diego from 1946-50.  After being reinstated in 1950, the ship executed a number of transport missions in Korea through the 1950s. In the following decade, the ship would transport personnel and equipment for missions throughout the Atlantic, Arctic, Caribbean and the Mediterranean.  

The USS Ashland’s bell is now on display on the grounds of the Ashland Estate. It was donated to the estate in 1995. The second USS Ashland, which is also an LSD model ship, was launched in 1989 and is still in service today.  

1st USS Ashland, United States Navy. Accessed October 17th 2020. https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lsd48/Pages/1st-USS-Ashland.aspx.

Amphibious Ships, United States Naval Academy. Accessed October 17th 2020. https://www.usna.edu/SurfaceWarfare/What/Ships/amphibs.php.

Ashland (LSD-1), Naval History and Heritage Command. March 25th 2020. Accessed October 17th 2020. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/ashland-lsd-1.html.

Current USS Ashland, United States Navy. Accessed October 17th 2020. https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lsd48/Pages/Current-USS-Ashland.aspx.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/80-G-628000/80-G-628067.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-65000/NH-65828-A.html