"l. y. spear" was decommissioned on 6 september 1996 and struck from the navy register on 3 may 1999. she was berthed at the norfolk naval shipyard in portsmouth, virginia, from 1999 till 2010. on 9 july 2010, a contract to dismantle "l. y. spear" was issued to esco marine, brownsville, texas. she departed the norfolk naval shipyard at the end of august 2010 and was completely dismantled by 14 july 2011.