USS Diachenko ( APD - 123 ) USS " Diachenko " ( APD - 123 ) , ex - USS " Alex Diachenko " , ex - DE - 690 , later LPR - 123 , was a in commission from 1944 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1969 . She served in the United States Navy during World War II , the Cold War , the Korean War , and the Vietnam War . Construction and commissioning . " Diachenko " was laid down as " Rudderow " class destroyer escort " Alex Diachenko " ( DE - 690 ) by the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy , Massachusetts . She was redesignated as a " Crosley " - class high - speed transport while under construction . She was launched on 15 August 1944 , and commissioned as USS " Alex Diachenko " ( APD - 123 ) on 8 December 1944 . World War II . " Alex Diachenko " entered service in the final year of World War II , and was assigned to the Asiatic - Pacific Theater . She sailed from Norfolk , Virginia , Virginia , on 31 January 1945 , stopping at San Diego , Pearl Harbor , Eniwetok , and Ulithi — being renamed USS " Diachenko " on 1 March 1945 while on her voyage — before arriving at Leyte on 21 March . She transported troops during the reoccupation of the Philippines . She landed soldiers at Legaspi , Philippines on 1 April and Police Harbor on 17 April . She arrived at Morotai , Indonesia on 7 May and transported Australian soldiers for the upcoming invasion at Brunei Bay , Borneo . She returned to Morotai , and on 26 June she set sail to land troops in the assault of Balikpapan , Indonesia on 1 July . With the end of the war the following month , " Diachenko " spent the next several months transporting soldiers throughout the region until 17 March 1946 when she set sail for the United States . She arrived at San Pedro , California on 25 April 1946 . She carried out operations across the North Pacific Ocean from her homeport in San Diego for the next few years until hostilities broke out in Korea . Korean War . " Diachenko " set sail for the United States naval base at Sasebo , Japan , on 30 June 1950 , five days after the North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel . She supported the United Nations forces from her base in Sasebo , often transporting an underwater demolition team making beach surveys and conducting reconnaissance . She returned to the United States on 9 May 1951 for an overhaul . During her second tour of duty , from 10 March to 5 December 1952 , " Diachenko " carried an underwater demolition team on reconnaissance missions and raids at Wonsan , North Korea . She participated in the bombardment and blockade of the Korean coast from Wonsan to Chongjin , North Korea . She set sail for the United States on 5 December 1952 for an overhaul . Between wars . After hostilities ended , " Diachenko " returned to Japan on 22 August 1953 with the 2nd Marine Reconnaissance Unit , delivering them to Nagoya . She spent the remainder of the year participating in amphibious exercises in Japanese waters . She served as a station ship in Hong Kong from 27 February to 6 March 1954 before returning to San Diego on 7 May . " Diachenko " sailed from San Diego on 31 March 1955 , arriving at Yokosuka , Japan , on 19 April . On 3 May , she reported to Hai Phong , French Indochina , where she served as flagship for the Evacuation Unit Commander during Operation Passage to Freedom , carrying refugees out of Communist North Vietnam and into South Vietnam . She returned to San Diego on 30 September 1955 . " Diachenko " left San Diego on 28 August 1956 , and headed to Yokosuka , Japan , where she picked up an underwater demolition team . She then picked up a Marine reconnaissance company at Okinawa and sailed them to Thailand , where they trained their Thai counterparts . She also participated in amphibious exercises and landings at Iwo Jima , Okinawa , and Luzon . She returned to San Diego on 26 August 1957 to train reserves and operate with underwater demolition teams . " Diachenko " returned to the West Pacific on 12 June 1958 and operated out of Okinawa and Subic Bay , Luzon , and in Japanese waters . On 23 August , she dropped off 6 LCVP s at Djakarta , Java . She conducted exercises with Chinese Nationalist forces at Taiwan from 1 to 10 September . Upon her return to San Diego , " Diachenko " resumed local operations until she was placed into the reserve fleet on 1 April 1959 . She was decommissioned on 30 June 1959 . Vietnam War . " Diachenko " was recommissioned in 1961 . She served in Vietnam for three years , from 18 July 1965 to 12 August 1968 . She played a role in the defense of South Vietnam and phases two , four , and five of the American counteroffensive . She also participated in the Tet Offensive in 1968 . With the war winding down , " Diachenko " returned to San Diego where she was reclassified as an amphibious transport , small , ( LPR - 123 ) on 1 January 1969 . She was decommissioned on 30 July 1969 and transferred to the reserve fleet . Final period in commission . " Diachenko " was recommissioned on 1 November 1971 . Why was this ship recommissioned on Nov . 1971 thru 1974 and what was her homeport ? ? ? ? Final decommissioning and disposal . " Diachenko " was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1974 , and sold for scrapping on 1 June 1975 . Why was this ship recommissioned in 1971 ? ? ? ? ?