SHIP'S ARCHIVES
The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) traces its lineage to 1794, when the Navy Department Library was established under the Naval Bureau, which was part of the War Department in Philadelphia. The NHHC, headed by the Director of Naval History, is an Echelon II command headquartered at the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia.
"NHHC is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, the USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus."
The NHHC has the following artifacts from USS Anchorage (LSD 36):
- 1 Builder's Plaque
- 1 Steering Wheel
- 1 Life Ring
- 1 Surface Warfare Office Pennant
- 1 Meritorious Unit Commendation Pennant
- 1 Commanding Officers Plaque
- 2 Bells:
- Ship's Bell *on USS Anchorage (LPD 23)
- Quarterdeck Bell
- 2 Clinometers
- 3 50 Star Flags
- 6 Battle Efficiency Plaques, 1993-1998
- Cruise Books*: 1968-1970, 1971, 1974, 1989, 1990-1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2001
*NHHC/Navy Department Library will only accept an original cruise book for their collection, and because of copyright issues, will only photocopy portions of a book for personal use and not the entire book.
*Frank Arre, formerly with the Naval Historical Foundation, has access to the following cruise books for duplication: 1968-1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1989, and 1998. Thanks to shipmates Paul Vangoethem for providing the 1975 book and Dennis Pard for providing 1977 and 1980. I have been told there was no cruise book produced for the 2002 deployment. Frank does have access to 1972, 1990-1991, 1994, 1996, and 2001, but doesn’t think the quality of images are adequate for reproduction.
*If you have a cruise book for a year he does not have, or any of the not 'adequate for reproduction' years, Frank asks that you do one of two things, either donate the book outright or allow it to be copied and then returned to you. If donated, Frank would copy first, then turn it over to the Navy Department Library, who would send you a tax-deduction form. EMail Frank for more information.
Other artifacts from USS Anchorage (LSD 36):
- 1 Ship's Anchor *located at Ship Creek Small Boat Launch, Anchorage, Alaska
TIP: When looking at a document, CNTRL F and typing ANCHORAGE or just LSD might direct you to relevant text faster
With reference to USS Anchorage (LSD 36):
- Virginia M. Heyward christens USS Anchorage - 5/1968 IMAGE
- Commissioning Ceremony Program *with notes from dignitaries - 3/1969 PDF
- WESTPAC *port visits with dates - 1969-1970 PDF
- Deck Log Entry *ship's first New Years Day - 1/1/1970 00-04 PDF
- stripes.com article "Keystone Robin Marines ship out" - 4/1971 IMAGE
- WESTPAC *port visits with dates - 1971-1972 PDF
- Welcome Aboard - 1972 PDF
- WESTPAC *port visits with dates and miles - 1973-1974 PDF
- Welcome Aboard - 1974 PDF
- Cruise Book *copied for us by the Naval Academy Nimitz Library - 1974 PDF
- SHORE LEAF "Navy making history today" - 10/1974 IMAGE
- Photo of ship *signed by numerous crew members - 1975 IMAGE
- Polymode Survey *Operation Polymode - 11/1975 PDF
- WESTPAC *port visits with dates - 1975 PDF
- WESTPAC *port visits with dates - 1977 PDF
- PROPULSION OPERATING GUIDE - 12/1978 PDF
- WESTPAC *port visits - 1980 PDF
- Vice Admiral Alexander S. Heyward, Jr. & Virginia N. Heyward *Virginia sponsored ship christening in 1968 - 12/1982 IMAGE
- "USS Anchorage 80s" VHS from Steve Rulo (7/86-5/90) - 1980's YOUTUBE
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) towing the USS Belleau Woods (LHA 3) - 3/1987 YOUTUBE
- US Navy in Desert Shield/Desert Storm - 1/1991 WEBSITE
- Flight Ops Certification - 2/1995 PDF
- MEF Planner's Reference Manual - Part II Equipment Capabilities - 12/1999 PDF
- PHASE 1 UNIFORM NATIONAL DISCHARGE STANDARDS FOR VESSELS OF THE ARMED FORCES - 4/1999 PDF
- Amphibious Ships and Landing Craft Data Book - 8/2001 PDF
- Future Deployable Medical Capabilities and Platforms for Navy Medicine - 2/2002 PDF
- U.S. AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT - 11/2002 PDF
- SUBMISSION OF COMMAND HISTORY *for calendar year - 2002 PDF
- navy.mil article "Anchorage Sailors Make Rescued Fisherman Feel At Home" - 6/2003 IMAGE
- Federal Business Opportunities Solicitation #N6279103R0066 - 6/2003 PDF
- Decommissioning invitation and program cover - 2003 PDF
- Decommissioning Ceremony Program - 10/2003 PDF
- Welcome Aboard - 2003 PDF
- U.S. Naval Institute PROCEEDINGS - 5/2004 PDF
- Legislation on Foreign Relations Through 2004 - 7/2005 PDF
- Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009 - 2/2008 PDF
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) towed to sea during RIMPAC/SINKEX Video 1 - 7/2010 DVIDS
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) towed to sea during RIMPAC/SINKEX Video 2 - 7/2010 YOUTUBE
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) being hit by multiple weapons during RIMPAC/SINKEX *starts at 7:29 in video, runs through 8:30 - 7/2010 YOUTUBE
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) going down after being hit during RIMPAC/SINKEX - 7/2010 QUICKTIME VIDEO
- SINKEX Report - 7/2010 PDF
- What is SINKEX? Naval Sea Systems Command - WEBSITE, U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration - WEBSITE
- jacksonville.com article "NAS Jax P-3s join Pacific live-fire exercise" - 6/2010 PDF
- Naval Vessel Register - 10/2010 PDF
- Implementation of New Topside Paints - 2011 PDF
- Huntington Ingalls News Release - 5/2011 PDF
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) books at Barnes & Noble - 2/2013 PDF
- military.com article mentioning Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Jacinto Ganac *served on USS Anchorage (LSD 36) and (LPD 23) - 5/2013 WEBSITE
- "Captain Philip E. Old assumed the duties of ..." *ship's Main Propulsion Division Officer, Damage Control Assistant 1988-1990 - 10/2019 IMAGE
- In Memory of USS Anchorage LSD-36 *memorial page created by USS Bremerton (SSN 698) - 7/12/22 WEBSITE
- Navy League Anchorage Council Sea Services Memorial - 8/2023 Dedication Program PDF Storyboard IMAGE
Miscellaneous:
- Ribbons earned - IMAGE
- Ribbon list from NDAWS, Navy Personnel Command *good for some information, list is incomplete - PDF
- OPNAVNOTE:1650 MASTER LIST OF UNIT AWARDS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS *good for some information, list is incomplete - PDF
- Commanding Officers from 1969 to 2003 - WEBPAGE
- Ship's positions underway *coordinates taken from deck logs entries at 0800, 1200, and 2000 - 10/1970 IMAGE
- Map showing the ship's position on nine equator crossings - IMAGE
- San Diego anchorages frequently used by the ship *several of these anchorages mentioned in ship's history - Coronado Roads, Harbor Island
- Naval History of Alaska - FLYER
- Information on exposure to Agent Orange, Radiation, Asbestos, and Lead can be found here.
If have questions or comments about the information found on this page, please EMail Michael.