USS Hampshire County ( LST - 819 ) USS " Hampshire County " ( LST - 819 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named for counties in Massachusetts and West Virginia , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name . Originally laid down as LST - 819 by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company of Evansville , Indiana on 12 September 1944 ; launched on 21 October ; sponsored by Mrs . William M . Gilmore ; and commissioned on 14 November 1944 with Lieutenant George W . Ryerson in command . World War II . Following shakedown off Florida , LST - 819 loaded cargo , then departed New Orleans on 18 December for the Pacific . After brief stops at San Diego and Pearl Harbor , the tank landing ship arrived Tulagi on 23 February 1945 . During the next month she shuttled cargo throughout the Pacific , then ammunition for the Okinawa invasion . Arriving on 2 April , one day after the initial landing , LST - 819 prepared to unload her cargo under heavy enemy air attack . Remaining off the island for the next three weeks , she assisted in the effort as the Japanese made an attempt to stop the American thrust toward Japan . For the rest of the war she continued transport and cargo operations in the vicinity of Okinawa . After V - J Day , she operated with the occupation forces in Okinawa and Japan , then sailed for the United States in mid - November , arriving San Francisco on 6 January 1946 . Later that month she sailed to Astoria , Oregon , was decommissioned there and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet . LST - 819 received one battle star for World War II service . Korean War . During the Korean War build - up LST - 819 recommissioned at Astoria on 8 September 1950 , Lt . J . H . Burch in command . Following training she departed San Diego three months later , arriving at Yokosuka on 17 January 1951 . Two weeks later she steamed to Pusan where she embarked Army personnel for transport to Inchon , arriving there on 19 February . From February to June LST - 819 carried troops and vehicles from Japan to Korean ports , then on 8 June departed for the United States . After six months at San Diego LST - 819 returned for her second tour in the Far East , arriving at Yokosuka on 15 February 1952 . She resumed cargo runs to the war zone and harbor entrance patrol until late October when she steamed back to the United States . After the Korean War LST - 819 made another cruise to the Far East from August 1953 to June 1954 where she resumed her cargo operations under more peaceful conditions . She returned to San Diego on 17 July and operated along the West Coast until she decommissioned on 24 June 1955 . While in reserve at San Diego LST - 819 was renamed USS " Hampshire County " ( LST - 819 ) on 1 July 1955 . LST - 819 received four battle star s for Korean War service . Vietnam War . " Hampshire County " was recommissioned at Tod Shipyard in San Padro , CA , in 1966 , for service in the Vietnam War . By 9 September she had completed shakedown training and on 24 September left Del Mar , California for Da Nang , Vietnam , arriving on 8 November . After debarking marines and cargo there , she returned to Guam , anchoring on 19 December . " Hampshire County " then participated in " Operation Market Time . " After that she continued into 1967 in her important combat support missions . " Hampshire County " received the Combat Action Ribbon , Presidential Unit Citation , Navy Unit Commendation , RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm , RVN Civil Action Medal First Class with Palm , RVN Campaign Medal with 60 ' s device , and the Vietnam Service Medal with 10 battle stars . The " Hampshire County " was awarded 10 battle stars during her Vietnam deployment . Decommissioning and sale . Decommissioned on 19 December 1970 , " Hampshire County " was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 April 1975 . Sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service in 1975 she was converted for commercial use , acquired by Landing System Technology Pte . Ltd . , of Singapore and renamed LST 2 . The ship was then acquired by Maritime & Commercial Co . Argonaftis S . A . of Greece on 30 June 1978 , and renamed " Petrola 142 " . Laid up on 24 February 1983 , the ship was eventually sold . She arrived at Aliağa , Turkey , for scrapping on 22 December 1995 .