USS Park County ( LST - 1077 ) USS " Park County " ( LST - 1077 ) was an " LST - 542 " - class tank landing ship in the United States Navy . Unlike many of her class , which received only numbers and were disposed of after World War II , she survived long enough to be named . On 1 July 1955 , all LSTs still in commission were named for US counties or parish es ; " LST - 1077 " was given the name Park County , after a county in Wyoming . " LST - 1077 " was laid down on 21 March 1944 by the Bethlehem - Hingham Shipyard , Inc . , Hingham , Massachusetts ; launched without ceremony on 18 April 1945 ; and commissioned on 8 May 1945 , Lt . I . W . Matthews in command . World War II Service . After shakedown , " LST – 1077 " was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and proceeded via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor , arriving 19 July . She conducted training and provided services in Hawaiian waters until 29 August , when she sailed for Japan with occupation troops embarked . She arrived at Sasebo 22 September and departed on the 25th for Lingayen , Philippines to return personnel and equipment to Pearl Harbor . On 2 January 1946 , " LST – 1077 " was ordered to the west coast for inactivation . She arrived at San Francisco 11 January ; steamed to Astoria , Oregon 3 May ; and decommissioned there 31 July 1946 . " LST – 1077 " was placed in reserve and berthed with the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Korean War . On 6 September 1950 , " LST – 1077 " recommissioned and joined the Pacific Fleet in the Far East where she served in operations in support of United Nations operations in Korea . She then returned to San Francisco in 1955 and decommissioned 12 May . She was again placed in reserve , and berthed with the San Francisco Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet . On 1 July 1955 , " LST – 1077 " was named " Park County " ( LST – 1077 ) and subsequently moved to Bremerton , Washington , remaining in the Reserve Fleet there , until recalled in 1965 for Vietnam service . Vietnam War . In November 1965 " Park County " was towed from Bremerton to Portland , Oregon for a complete modernization overhaul . On 9 April 1966 she again commissioned and , following shakedown , was assigned to Landing Ship Squadron 3 , homeported in Guam . " Park County " arrived in Vietnam in late August after carrying marines ( Bruce B . Tucker ) to Iwakuni , Japan . Her operations in support of the U . S . Military Assistance Command , Vietnam , included participation in Operation Duke off the coast of Tam Quan , RVN in October 1966 , and lifts to Cam Ranh Bay , Tuy Hoa , and Qui Nhon . She also spent considerable time in support of Naval Support Activity at Da Nang carrying general cargo , ammunition , troops , and lubricants . At Vung Tau she relieved " Sutter County " ( LST – 1150 ) on 4 February 1967 for Operation Market Time serving as a base of operations for Coast Guard cutters and Navy Swift Boats and providing them necessary supplies and repairs . She was relieved 4 March by " Pitkin County " ( LST – 1082 ) , and departed Vietnamese waters for Hong Kong and Manila . " Park County " returned to Da Nang 31 May and resumed operations with the Naval Support Activity . On 22 September she sailed to Guam and got underway 19 November for Yokosuka , Japan . From Yokosuka she conducted amphibious training operations until 2 December when she returned to Da Nang via Taiwan and Subic Bay , arriving 5 January 1968 . At Da Nang she was assigned to the Da Nang - Cua Viet shuttle run . On 29 February she began more Market - Time operations . " Park County " continued her support of Vietnam operations until 13 December when she got underway for Guam for extensive overhaul . Leaving Guam 18 April 1969 she returned to Da Nang via Buckner Bay and Subic Bay , arriving 11 July . In July 1970 , under the command of Lieutenant T . C Davis ( later Lieutenant Commander ) , the " Park County " returned to Vietnam ( from Subic Bay ) serving as a member of the “ Brown Water Navy . ” Lieutenant Davis was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during a “ fire - fight ” while the " Park County " was on her way to resupply a base northwest of Binh Thuy . Between July 1970 and August 1971 , the " Park County " continued to operate out of Vung Tau carrying and delivering food , supplies , and ammunition to U . S . Military fire bases and installation throughout the Mekong Delta . Bases she visited and supplied included both U . S . Army and U . S . Marine Corps installations at Binh Thuy , Vinh Long , Can Tho , Long Xuyen , Tan Chau , Cam Ranh , and Nha Trang ( and others ) . In mid - August 1971 , she departed Vung Tau for San Diego , California , via Subic Bay , Guam , and Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , where following her arrival the U . S . S . Park County was decommissioned and ceremoniously turned over ( September 1971 ) to the Armada de México ( Mexican Navy or SEMAR ) to serve as a Panuco Class Tank Landing Ship . Mexican Service . " Park County " was sold to the Mexican Navy 1 July 1978 , and was renamed ARM " Rio Panuco " ( IA - 1 ) . Following her services with SEMAR , she was used as a target ship and was sunk , becoming an artificial reef .