USS Holmes County ( LST - 836 ) USS " Holmes " County ( LST - 836 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named after counties in Florida , Mississippi , and Ohio , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name . Originally laid down as LST - 836 by the American Bridge Company of Ambridge , Pennsylvania on 11 September 1944 ; launched on 29 October ; sponsored by Mrs . H . E . Hetu ; and commissioned on 25 November with Ensign Elmo J . Sullivan in command . Service history . World War II , 1944 – 1946 . After shakedown off Florida , " LST - 836 " loaded ammunition , lumber , and cement , then departed New Orleans on 2 January 1945 . She unloaded the cargo at Balboa , Panama in the Canal Zone , and proceeded to San Diego , arriving on the 23rd . In early February she sailed for Hawaii , where she trained , embarked troops , then steamed to the Marshall Islands . Following three weeks of preparation in the Marshalls and Carolines , the landing ship departed Ulithi on 12 April for Okinawa . With the battle for this strategic base well underway , " LST - 836 " arrived six days later ; unloaded troops and equipment and returned Ulithi on 29 April . For the rest of the war , she shuttled cargo and troops throughout the Pacific ; then after VJ Day was assigned to duty with the occupation forces in Japan . Returning to the United States " LST - 836 " arrived San Francisco on 19 January 1946 ; and remained on the West Coast until she decommissioned at Vancouver , Washington on 25 July 1946 . Korea , 1950 – 1954 . Following four years in the Pacific Reserve Fleet , " LST - 836 " recommissioned at Bremerton , Washington on 3 November 1950 with Lieutenant Thomas J . McLaughlin in command . After refresher training she sailed for the Far East , to join United Nations forces in South Korea . Arriving Yokosuka on 28 March 1951 , the veteran landing ship was once again assigned to a battle zone and for the next eight months shuttled cargo and troops between Japan and various Korean ports . After a brief stateside overhaul in early 1952 , " LST - 836 " departed San Diego on 24 July for operations in conjunction with the first hydrogen bomb tests in the Marshall Islands . From August to November she aided scientists as they tested this new source of power . She returned to San Diego ; then , after a brief respite , sailed on 16 March 1953 for further duty in the still raging Korean War . Arriving at Yokosuka on 22 April , " LST - 836 " immediately commenced cargo runs from the staging areas to Inchon . When the fighting ended , " LST - 836 " remained in the Far East to transport cargo to the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed in Korea . Pacific Fleet , 1954 – 1964 . From 1954 to 1959 she made three WestPac cruises and participated in training operations along the West Coast . On 1 July 1955 " LST - 836 " was renamed USS " Holmes County " ( LST - 836 ) . Following a FRAM overhaul in late 1959 , the landing ship was assigned to the Pacific Amphibious Force , and for the next five years " Holmes County " engaged in amphibious exercises along the West Coast and in the Hawaiian Islands . Vietnam , 1965 – 1971 . On 11 October 1965 " Holmes County " left San Diego for operations in Southeast Asia . She arrived at Da Nang , South Vietnam on 22 November and operated there for the rest of the year and into 1966 . On 29 March 1966 , after 89 days in the combat zone , " Holmes County " steamed for Yokosuka , Japan , for upkeep before starting the 5 , 500 - mile journey home . " Holmes County " received the following message from Commander 7th Fleet : " " As you depart 7th Fleet Intra - Coastal Task Unit , be assured you leave behind an admiration for the extraordinary work you have done this cruise " . " On 26 May " Holmes County " arrived home . After serving in the San Diego area for four months , she participated in the Fleet Exercise " Operation Base Line " in October . This was one of the largest peacetime operations conducted by the Pacific Fleet . " Holmes County " later returned to Vietnam , operating in that theatre until at least 1970 . Decommissioning and sale . " Holmes County " was transferred on loan to the Republic of Singapore Navy ( RSN ) on 1 July 1971 , being renamed RSS " Endurance " ( L201 ) . The ship was sold outright to Singapore on 5 December 1975 . " Endurance " , along with other ex - US LSTs served as part of 191 Squadron of the 3rd Flotilla , with the main roles of transporting Singapore Army personnel to overseas training facilities and for cadet training . " Endurance " was re - engined with MTU diesels during her service with Singapore . Following the commissioning of the new RSS " Endurance " ( LS207 ) into the Singapore Navy in 1999 , she was decommissioned for the last time that same year along with her sister ships " Excellence " ( L202 , ex LST - 629 ) , " Intrepid " ( L203 , ex LST - 579 ) and " Persistence " ( L205 , ex LST - 613 ) . Currently , all four are used as floating defense barricade for Changi Naval Base . " LST - 836 " received one battle star for World War II service , three stars for the Korean War , and 11 campaign star s for her service in Vietnam . External links . R