USS Montrose ( APA - 212 ) USS " Montrose " ( APA - 212 ) was a " Haskell " class attack transport that saw service with the US Navy in World War II , the Korean War and Vietnam War . " Montrose " was named after a county in Colorado . She was laid down under Maritime Commission Contract 17 June 1944 , by Permanente Metals Corporation of Richmond , California ; launched 13 September 1944 , and commissioned 2 November 1944 , Comdr . H . G . Davis in command . Operational history . World War II . After shakedown off California , Montrose embarked troops at Seattle , Washington , and steamed to the Philippines , arriving at Leyte 21 February to prepare for the invasion of the Okinawa . Invasion of Okinawa . " Montrose " participated in the landings in Kerama Retto 26 March , and on 2 April , shot down two kamikaze s . She steamed to Menna - shima off Okinawa 15 April , and disembarked units of the 306th Field Artillery . Four days later she took part in a diversionary feint on the southwest tip of Okinawa , returning to Menna Shima 23 April . Leaving the Ryukus she sailed to Ulithi with Army casualties , en route to San Francisco to embark more troops . She debarked these units at Manila 27 July . After hostilities . For the next 2 months she shuttled troops between the Philippines and Hawaii . From 25 August to 24 October , " Montrose " was busy carrying occupation troops to Sasebo , Kyūshū . She was decommissioned on 26 October 1946 , and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Stockton , California . Korean War . After hostilities broke out in Korea , " Montrose " recommissioned 12 September 1950 , and arrived Yokosuka , Japan , 8 January 1951 to help repel the invasion by North Korea . She took troops to Inchon early in 1951 ; and , in April , after a run to Hong Kong , she steamed for the California coast . She returned to Yokosuka 30 July 1952 , and joined TF 90 , supporting operations off Korea , until returning to San Diego 6 December . She returned to Japan in March 1954 and took part in training exercises from Iwo Jima to Korea . Peacetime operations . Operation Passage to Freedom . When war threatened in Indochina , she sailed to Saigon . Leaving Saigon 9 August , she proceeded to Haiphong to evacuate refugees from there to Saigon as part of operation " Passage to Freedom . " By 12 September " Montrose " had evacuated 9 , 060 people . She sailed home , arriving San Diego 21 November . Transport and training missions . In March 1955 , " Montrose " travelled again to Japan , disembarking members of the 3rd Marine Division . Between April and November she helped train South Korean amphibious forces and operated off the Japanese coast , until steaming to San Diego in November . She spent the early part of 1956 in training , before proceeding to the Far East for operations in the Bay of Siam in October . She arrived San Diego 13 April 1957 , and operated off the California coast for the next 5 months . In September she took part in cold weather landing exercises near Kodiak , Alaska , then remained on the west coast until 12 June , when she sailed for Japan . Between 1958 and 1965 , she operated off the California coast , and made several voyages to the Far East . Vietnam War . With the situation in South Vietnam becoming more precarious , " Montrose " left San Diego 23 August 1965 , to begin training off Okinawa . In November , she conducted several successful strikes against the Vietcong , the first attack coming at Lang Keaa . The following month she participated in a massive attack on the Vietcong near Da Nang . She sailed 25 January 1966 for Gu Lao Re , and assisted in an attack on a Vietcong stronghold there . She arrived 14 April at San Diego , and returned for her 12th deployment in the western Pacific early in 1967 . She anchored at the mouth of Long Tau River , South Vietnam , on 23 March , and took part in the establishment of a powerful riverine force . While delivering supplies at Dong Ha 25 May , " Montrose " came under hostile fire . She arrived 16 September 1968 at San Diego , and began preparation for a return trip to the western Paciflc into 1969 . Final decommission . " Montrose " was struck from the Naval register on 2 November 1969 and returned to the Maritime Administration , who sold her for scrapping to the Ziddell Corporation of Portland , Oregon in 1970 . Decorations . Montrose received one battle star for World War II service , three for Korean War service and six for Vietnam War service , giving her a career total of ten battle stars .