USS Rockbridge ( APA - 228 ) USS " Rockbridge " ( APA - 228 ) was a of the VC2 - S - AP5 model in the United States Navy during World War II and the years following . She was named for Rockbridge County in Virginia . " Rockbridge " was laid down for the Maritime Commission ( MCV hull 674 ) on 2 September 1944 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company in Vancouver , Washington , launched on 28 October 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . C . J . Hearn , acquired by the Navy on loan - charter on 18 November 1944 ; and commissioned the same day , with Captain William W . Cone in command . Service history . 1944 – 1947 . The new attack transport arrived at Pearl Harbor on 4 February 1945 , sailed for Iwo Jima on the 20th , and operated off that island for two weeks . She returned to Seattle , Washington , on 28 May and on 6 June embarked Army troops for Okinawa . " Rockbridge " arrived at the Hagushi anchorage on 24 July to debark the men and discharge cargo . During the six days she spent off Okinawa , the ship was harassed by night air attacks , but suffered no damage because of the concealing smoke made by all the vessels in the harbor . " Rockbridge " was off Ulithi in mid - August when the Japanese surrender was announced . During September and October she made two voyages to Japan with occupation troops and then joined the " Magic Carpet " fleet to bring home servicemen eligible for discharge . Assigned to Joint Task Force 1 in the spring of 1946 , she served as a floating hotel for the crews of target vessels , , and during that summer ' s atomic bomb tests on Bikini . " Rockbridge " was decommissioned on 8 March 1947 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet . 1950 – 1968 . After the outbreak of hostilities in Korea , she was ordered reactivated . She was recommissioned on 23 December 1950 , and in May 1951 joined Amphibious Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet . From 1951 to 1968 , the transport participated in numerous amphibious training programs at Onslow Beach , North Carolina , Little Creek , Virginia ; Guantanamo Bay , Cuba ; and Vieques , Puerto Rico . During her long service , she made eight Mediterranean cruises . Highlights included her participation in " Weldfast " a large - scale NATO operation in 1953 , standby alert for possible evacuation of U . S . citizens from Egypt during the 1956 Suez Canal nationalization crisis , and aid to earthquake victims of Greece in 1953 ; and to flood victims in France in 1959 . During the Cuban Missile Crisis in the fall of 1962 , " Rockbridge " carried reinforcements to Guantanamo Bay and returned to the United States for additional troops , which she held in combat readiness until December . In January 1964 " Rockbridge " , along with other ships from Phibron 8 , was in Cristobal , Panama during the riots . She spent roughly 45 days tied up at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station . During July , 1966 , the transport took part in the production of an amphibious training film , " Boat Group Tactics " , filmed in Hampton Roads , Virginia . " Rockbridge " also starred in " The Proud and Profane " and supported the filming of " PT - 109 " . A boat crew from " Rockbridge " was assigned to the film crew to operate the LCVP and Japanese landing craft used in the film . " Rockbridge " was again decommissioned on 29 November 1968 , struck from the Navy List on 1 December 1968 and sold to Boston Metals Company of Baltimore , Maryland , on 27 May 1969 for scrapping . For her World War II service , " Rockbridge " received one battle star .