USS Lincoln County ( LST - 898 ) USS " Lincoln County " ( LST - 898 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named after counties in 23 U . S . states , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name . Originally laid down as " LST - 898 " by the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania on 15 October 1944 ; launched on 25 November , sponsored by Mrs . J . B . Mawhinney ; and commissioned on 29 December with Lieutenant D . W . Kallock in command . Service history . World War II , 1944 – 1945 . After shakedown off Florida , she loaded cargo at New Orleans and departed on 4 February 1945 . Sailing via the Canal Zone , " LST - 898 " arrived Majuro on 12 March , then proceeded to Saipan to prepare for the Okinawa invasion . Departing Saipan on 12 April she arrived Chimu Wan , Okinawa and discharged cargo on this strategic base which lay at the gateway to Japan . Returning to Saipan on 6 April , " LST - 898 " shuttled troops and equipment among the Marianas , Philippines , and Okinawa during the remaining months of the War . Post - war activities , 1945 – 1946 . Following the Allied victory in the Pacific , she operated in the Far East , transporting occupation forces and equipment until late November . From December 1945 to February 1946 , the landing ship aided in the dismantling of Army bases in the Philippines . She remained in the Philippines and decommissioned there on 9 May 1946 . Army and MSTS operations , 1946 – 1950 . On 25 May she was transferred to the Army for cargo operations . " LST - 898 " returned to Navy control on 1 June 1950 and for the next three months performed cargo operations for Military Sea Transportation Service ( MSTS ) in Japan and Korea . The Communist threat to South Korea called for a buildup of naval forces to speed the flow of men and supplies into the conflict . Korean War , 1950 – 1952 . " LST - 898 " recommissioned on 28 August 1950 , loaded troops and vehicles at Kobe , Japan , for the Inchon invasion , then sailed 10 September for the west coast of Korea . The veteran landing ship participated in the well - executed invasion at Inchon on 15 September . The success of the operation prompted General Douglas MacArthur to remark that " " The Navy and Marines have never shone more brightly than this morning " . " After discharging troops and cargo , she provided emergency medical care for wounded marines , then supported assault forces by shelling enemy positions ashore . " LST - 898 " supported operations at Inchon until mid - October ; after Chinese troops entered the conflict , she redeployed U . S . Marines in northern Korea . From October to 29 December , she evacuated Marines and Korean civilians from Hŭngnam and Wonsan to Pusan . From January to late April 1951 " LST - 898 " continued supply runs between Japanese and Korean ports . Departing Yokosuka on 24 April she arrived San Diego on 21 May for overhaul and training exercises . She returned Yokosuka on 3 April 1952 for her second tour in the fight against Communism in the embattled Korean peninsula . Throughout the next six months , she ferried troops and supplies between Japan and Korea , returning San Diego on 16 November . Pacific Fleet operations , 1953 – 1960 . During mid - 1953 , " LST - 898 " carried supplies to Navy installations at Point Barrow , Alaska , remaining in the Arctic until early September . For the next two years the veteran landing ship alternated operations in the western Pacific with amphibious exercises off the west coast . On 15 July 1955 " LST - 898 " was named USS " Lincoln County " ( LST - 898 ) . From 1955 to 1960 , she sailed for three tours with the 7th Fleet , made one cruise to the frigid Arctic to supply " DEW Line " installations , and participated in amphibious exercises off the west coast and Hawaii . Decommissioning and sale . After serving the Navy during two wars besides sailing on many tours with the 7th Fleet to prevent incidents from enlarging into new conflicts , " Lincoln County " decommissioned on 24 March 1961 . On 31 August 1962 she was turned over to the government of Thailand under the terms of the Military Assistance Program for service in the Royal Thai Navy as Chang " ( LST - 2 ) . This ship ' s hull number was changed to 712 HTMS " Chang ( date unknown ) , and was still active in the Royal Thai Navy . On November 22 , 2012 , HTMS Chang ( Hull No . 712 ) was scuttled near Koh Chang Island in Trat Province , Thailand , to make an artificial reef for scuba diving . Information from the November 23 , 2012 Bangkok Post . Awards . " LST - 898 " received one battle star for World War II service and six for Korean War service .