USS Hampden County ( LST - 803 ) The USS " Hampden County " ( LST - 803 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named after Hampden County , Massachusetts , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name . Originally laid down as LST - 803 by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company of Jeffersonville , Indiana 14 September 1944 ; launched 23 October ; sponsored by Mrs . Katie Bryant ; and commissioned 17 November with Lieutenant H . M . Parsons in command . After shakedown off Florida LST - 803 departed New Orleans in December , arriving San Diego 8 January 1945 . Sailing 4 days later , she touched Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok before arriving Guam 12 February . During the next month she prepared at Guam , Saipan , and Tinian for the invasion of Okinawa . With the 16th Marine Antiaircraft Battalion on board , she sailed 26 March for the last barrier on the road to Saipan . The landing ship approached Kerama Retto 2 April , then under heavy enemy air raids and suicide attacks for the next week she unloaded her cargo before proceeding to Saipan for reinforcements . For the rest of the War LST - 803 shuttled cargo between Okinawa and the Philippines , then after the official Japanese surrender arrived Tokyo Bay with cargo for the occupation forces . Following 3 months duty in the Far East LST - 803 sailed for the United States in mid - November , arriving San Diego the following month . In July , 1946 she returned to the Western Pacific to operate as a utility ship , and transported cargo , troops , and prisoners - of - war throughout the Mariana and Caroline Islands . She continued these operations until 26 February 1949 when she departed Kwajalein for the United States . Arriving Long Beach 10 April , LST - 803 decommissioned 15 June and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Following the external communist aggression in South Korea LST - 803 recommissioned with Lieutenant Ben Owen in command on 15 November 1950 to meet the demand for ships needed in the struggle . She departed Port Hueneme 3 March 1951 and arrived Yokosuka 26 April . On 17 May she sailed to Korea to transport prisoners - of - war between Pusan and Koje - Do . Throughout the rest of the year she operated between Japan and Inchon , Korea , transporting troops , cargo , and prisoners - of - war then sailed 31 January 1952 , for San Diego . After a brief overhaul and training , the veteran landing ship was back in Japan 15 November . She resumed her cargo and transport runs from Japan to Inchon and Pusan , continuing these operations until the Armistice ended the armed conflict 27 July 1953 . Her major projects were amphibious landings at Inchon and salvage work behind enemy lines at Chummum Do . After the War she engaged in " Operation Big Switch , " the return of North Korean and Chinese Communists to Incheon for the exchange of South Korean repatriates . Returning to San Diego 25 September she operated along the West Coast for the rest of the year . In May , 1954 she sailed on her third Far East tour and , while there , was assigned to " Operation Passage to Freedom " which transported French and Vietnamese Army units , and Christian refugees from North Vietnam to Saigon . While still in the Far East early in 1955 , another impending crisis flared between the Communist Chinese and the Chinese Nationalist s over the Tachen Islands . As part of the amphibious force of the 7th Fleet , LST - 803 commenced embarking personnel and supplies from the Tachen beaches on 8 February . During the next week she transported over 2 , 300 troops and civilians , along with vehicles and heavy weapons to Formosa . After these two operations contributing to peace in Asia were completed LST - 803 sailed for the United States , arriving San Diego 28 April . On 1 July 1955 LST - 803 was named USS " Hampden County " ( LST - 803 ) . For the next 2 years she engaged in amphibious exercises along the West Coast , Hawaii , and in the Far East . After her 1956 - 1957 WestPac tour , she returned to the West Coast 31 August , then decommissioned at Mare Island 2 January 1958 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 17 April and was sunk as a fleet practice target off the coast of California 26 September 1958 . LST - 803 received one battle star for World War II service and five stars for the Korean War .