South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia are among the other nations building amphibious craft, all capable of transporting and landing hundreds of fully equipped troops on hostile shores.

The new LPD-17 ships are 25,000-ton amphibious vessels designed to transport and land up to 800 Marines, their equipment and supplies by using landing craft, amphibious vehicles and helicopters.

When the troops aboard his landing craft splashed ashore during an allied amphibious attack at Anzio, Italy, Arness was chosen to lead the way.