USS Madera County ( LST - 905 ) USS " Madera County " ( LST - 905 ) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named after Madera County , California , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name . Originally laid down as " LST - 905 " by the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania on 19 November 1944 ; launched on 30 November 1944 , sponsored by Mrs . Paul Gulling ; and commissioned on 20 January 1945 . Service history . World War II , 1945 – 1946 . After commissioning , the ship was fitted out at New Orleans and then underwent brief training exercises along the gulf coast . In February 1945 she departed for the Pacific , arriving the next month at Pearl Harbor . Following further training , she departed Hawaii on 16 April for the Marianas . By mid - May she was at Guam where she joined a convoy then gathering to get underway for Okinawa . She arrived at Okinawa Gunto on 8 June , remaining until the 28th . She continued to operate in the western Pacific , shuttling cargo and passengers among the island groups until returning to the United States in 1946 . On 11 September 1946 she was deactivated and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet . While still inactive the LST was given the name USS " Madera County " ( LST - 905 ) on 1 July 1955 . 1963 – 1965 . On 30 March 1963 " Madera County " recommissioned , retaining her reserve status . With a crew of volunteers from the Pacific Fleet ' s Amphibious Force , she underwent shakedown training at San Diego and then began preparations for a voyage to a new home port at the Naval Amphibious Base , Little Creek , Virginia . Arriving there on 19 June , she came under the control of the Commander , Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Her mission as part of this Fleet was to be able to support , on short notice , any military operation in the Atlantic - Caribbean area . The next year and a half was spent on extensive amphibious training exercises and shipyard periods to insure this ability . On 22 March 1965 she proceeded to Cape Kennedy , Florida to stand by during the recovery phase of the first manned Project Gemini shot . On 27 April the ship again departed Little Creek for southern waters , this time transporting equipment to Puerto Rico . The next day the Dominican Republic crisis arose , and upon delivery of her cargo at Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico she headed for San Juan where she went on four - hour standby duty . In May she made one trip to Little Creek , returning to the Caribbean within two weeks with Army units aboard . On 8 June , she debarked these units at Puerta de Andres , Dominican Republic and loaded other Army units for a voyage back to the east coast . She returned to Little Creek on 15 June , but before the end of the year completed three more Caribbean deployments ; 13 August to 15 September 25 October to 10 November , and 18 November to 8 December . On 11 December the LST was assigned active status and then underwent overhaul in preparation for extended sea duty . Vietnam War , 1966 – 1969 . Ordered to the western Pacific , " Madera County " steamed out of Hampton Roads on 11 February 1966 en route to the Philippines . She entered Subic Bay on 1 May and the next week commenced logistic support of Vietnamese operations . During the ensuing months she transported ammunition and construction materials to the Republic of Vietnam , off loading at ports such as Qui Nhon , Da Nang , Chu Lai , and Nha Trang . She also called at ports in the Philippines , on Taiwan and in Japan . Upkeep and maintenance periods were held at Sasebo during July and December 1966 . Following her December overhaul , " Madera County " returned to Subic Bay and support of combat operations in South Vietnam , continuing this role through 1969 . Madera County was attached to Landing Ship Squadron 2 ( LANSHIPRON 2 ) and classified as an " in - country " activity , her crew made up of sailors who volunteereed for service in Vietnam . She operated under orders from Naval Support Activity , Vietnam ( NAVSUPPACT ) , and the Military Sea Transport Service ( MSTS ) . During 1967 – 1969 she operated primarily in the Mekong Delta providing personnel / equipment transport and logistical support to the PBR Base at Binh Thuy and Mobile Riverine Force bases up and down the river . In 1967 – 68 a typical run started from Saigon ( Newport LST piers ) then to Vung Tau and across Vung Tau Bay to the mouth of the Mekong River near My Tho . From the My Tho area the trip continued up river to a turn through point near Vinh Long into the Bassac River . The run continued down the Bassac to the PBR base LST ramp at Bien Thuy . After off - loading cargo the Madera proceeded on the Bassac River to the Vung Tau anchorage and then back to Saigon for another load . During the same period the ship made several trips up the coast of South Vietnam , beaching at Nha Trang and Da Nang . From Da Nang the ship loaded with trucks and transported Marines and supplies to Cua Viet on the DMZ ( Demilitrarized Zone ) . During the TET Offensive the Madera County sailed into Saigon on 2 February 1968 and anchored at the Newport Beach LST slip . Because Army personnel were not present the ship ' s LCVPs were lowered , a line handling party put on the pier and the ship was docked by her own crew . Later that evening an NFL tour group , stranded at the Capitol Hotel in Saigon , was brought back to the ship . The players included Jack Kemp , Bobby Bell , John David Crow and Bill Brown . In June 1968 the Madera County began logistical support operations with the Mobile Riverine Force ( MRF ) . That assignment continued until she was turned over to the Philippine Navy in 1969 . The motto of the USS Madera County ( LST 905 ) was : " Any Beach in the World " and included a few places that weren ' t beaches at all ! Decommissioning and transfer . Decommissioned ( date unknown ) , the tank landing ship was transferred ( leased ) to the Republic of the Philippines on 29 November 1969 and renamed RPS " Ilcos Norte " ( LT - 87 ) . Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 September 1979 , she was sold to the Philippines on 1 March 1980 . The ship was struck from the Philippine Navy in 1992 ; her final fate is unknown . Awards . " LST - 905 " earned one battle star for World War II service , and as " Madera County " ten campaign star s for Vietnam War service .