USS Magoffin ( APA - 199 ) USS " Magoffin " ( APA - 199 / LPA - 199 ) was a " Haskell " - class attack transport acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas . World War II service . " Magoffin " ( " APA 199 " ) , built under Maritime Commission contract , launched 4 October 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Co . , Vancouver , Washington ; sponsored by Mrs . Fred Sonlotfeldt ; and commissioned 25 October 1944 , Comdr . Eugene L . McManus in command . Okinawa Landing . Attached to Transport Division 54 during post commissioning amphibious training off the coast of southern California , " Magoffin " conveyed troops and cargo in the South Pacific until 1 March 1945 . On that date she commenced rehearsals at Guadalcanal for the invasion of the Ryukyus . Underway on the 27th , she steamed with the invasion force for Okinawa , where she participated in the landings 1 April . During the battle for Okinawa , " Magoffin " , the first ship in Transport Division 54 to be unloaded , assisted in downing two enemy planes . After this campaign " Magoffin " carried men and cargo between the United States and forward area bases until the following spring . On 10 March 1946 , she reported to the 19th Fleet , San Francisco , California , for inactivation . She decommissioned 14 August 1946 . Reactivated during Korean War . After the outbreak of the Korean War , " Magoffin " recommissioned 4 October 1950 and was assigned to the U . S . Pacific Fleet . Departing San Francisco 22 March 1951 , she steamed for Japan where she debarked troops and cargo 7 to 8 April . " Magoffin " remained in the western Pacific Ocean conveying troops and cargo between Japan and Korea and participating in amphibious exercises , two at Sagami Wan , Japan , and one in Korea . She headed for the U . S . West Coast late in August , arriving at San Diego , California , 8 September for landing exercises and overhaul . Korean War operations . " Magoffin " again sailed for the Far East 10 July 1952 . Arriving a month later at Yufusu , Japan , she commenced a series of amphibious training exercises with Army and Marine units ; two exercises were held in Japan and two at Inchon , Korea . She also participated in an amphibious demonstration staged 15 October off Kojo , North Korea , in an effort to draw reserve Communist units in the area out into the open . In November , she returned to San Diego for exercises and operations along the U . S . west coast . With the exception of one voyage to Japan and back in late August 1953 , she operated on the U . S . west coast until departing for the western Pacific in February 1954 . Amphibious operations at Iwo Jima , Okinawa , and Busan , Korea , were followed , in August , by orders to Indochina . Arriving at Haiphong , she embarked refugees for transport to Saigon . By 17 September " Magoffin " had carried over 6 , 000 refugees from tyranny to South Vietnam . Following this “ Operation Passage to Freedom ” duty , she returned to San Diego , arriving 21 November 1954 . Nuclear testing . From that day to the end of her Navy service , " Magoffin " has operated , with the exception of the years 1959 , 1960 , 1963 , and 1966 , in the western Pacific for at least 6 months out of each year . Two of the more historically eventful years during this period were 1958 and 1964 . In the spring of 1958 , the transport participated in Operation Hardtack I , the 1958 series of nuclear tests at Eniwetok Atoll . Diversion to the Middle East . Shortly after the tests , the mid July politico military flareups in the volatile Middle East caused the ship to embark troops at Okinawa and head for the Persian Gulf . This deployment was to provide support , if necessary , to the British and American forces sent into Jordan and Lebanon . However , tension eased after the Navy ’ s resolute action averted Communist subversion in Lebanon , allowing " Magoffin " to return to her U . S . 7th Fleet station . Return Pacific Seventh Fleet . 6 August 1964 saw " Magoffin " , having completed a 6 month tour with the U . S . 7th Fleet and heading for her home port of San Diego , ordered back to Okinawa to embark troops . The ship then steamed for Vietnam , where the " Maddox " incident in the Gulf of Tonkin . Vietnam War operations . Since that time , " Magoffin ’ s " tours on the U . S . west coast continued to include periodic overhauls , coastal operations , and amphibious exercises . Her tours in the western Pacific have been in support of operations in Southeast Asia , transporting troops and cargo , participating in amphibious operations , and , on occasion , serving as station ship in Da - Nang harbor . Deactivation and scrapping . " Magoffin " returned to San Diego 9 December 1967 to prepare for inactivation . She decommissioned 10 April 1968 and entered the Naval Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay , California , under the custody of the Maritime Administration . She was redesignated " LPA 199 " on 1 January 1969 . Military awards and honors . " Magoffin " received one battle star for World War II service at Okinawa . She received two more battle stars ( campaign stars ) during the Korean War during her efforts there during 1951 and 1952 . She received an additional four campaign stars during the Vietnam War .