USS Balduck ( APD - 132 ) USS " Balduck " ( APD - 132 ) was a of the United States Navy , named after Marine Corporal Remi A . Balduck ( 1918 – 1942 ) , who was killed during the Battle of Guadalcanal . For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross . " Balduck " s keel was laid down on 17 June 1944 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City , Michigan as a , designated DE - 716 . She was re - designated as APD - 132 , a fast transport , on 17 July 1944 , and launched on 27 October 1944 , sponsored by Mrs . Mary Verhougstraete , mother of Corporal Balduck . Builders trials before her pre - commissioning cruise were done in Lake Huron . After completion , " Balduck " sailed from the builder ' s yard at Bay City to Chicago , Illinois . From there , they went through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and down the Chicago River to Joliet , Illinois , where pontoons were attached to the ship so it could be pushed down the Des Plaines River , Illinois River , and Mississippi River as part of a barge train . After arriving at the Todd Johnson Shipyard in Algiers , Louisiana , on the west bank of the Mississippi at New Orleans , the rest of the crew reported aboard , and " Balduck " was commissioned at New Orleans on 7 May 1945 , with Lieutenant R . T . Newell , Jr . , USNR , in command . Service history . 1945 – 1946 . As an APD , her primary role was to land raiding parties on enemy beaches and Underwater Demolition Team ( UDT ) personnel on beach obstacle clearance operations . APDs also retained the sound gear and some anti - submarine weapons of destroyer escorts , and served as escorts to amphibious groups . Because they could take on extra personnel , they were often designated as rescue ships if a transport went down . Departing Oceanside , California , on 16 August 1945 , " Balduck " steamed to Okinawa , arriving there on 3 September . She participated in the occupation of Korea and Tsingtao , China , until 12 October 1945 . She departed on 19 October for San Diego , arriving there on 7 November . As a member of Transport Division 112 , she conducted five voyages between San Diego and San Pedro , California , carrying personnel , before commencing her pre - inactivation overhaul . She went out of commission in reserve at San Diego on 31 May 1946 . 1953 – 1958 . " Balduck " was recommissioned on 5 November 1953 , and assigned to Amphibious Control Division 12 . Between 8 December 1953 and 25 March 1954 , she was at San Francisco Naval Shipyard undergoing repairs and overhaul . Upon return to San Diego , " Balduck " joined Amphibious Control Division 11 . She exercised in the area with Underwater Demolition Team s and on anti - submarine warfare training . On 1 September 1954 , " Balduck " departed San Diego and steamed to Yokosuka , Japan , reporting to Amphibious Transport Division 31 . She arrived on 14 October 1954 at Hai Phong , Indochina , and assisted in the evacuation of Vietnamese . She then steamed to the Tachen Islands , arriving there on 9 February 1955 , where she operated with units of Task Force 77 during the evacuation of Nationalist Chinese soldiers and civilians . Between 1 March and 17 March , " Balduck " steamed with a task unit between Yokosuka and San Diego . Following repairs , she operated out of San Diego on anti - submarine , amphibious , and air defense training exercises . Arriving at Yokosuka , Japan , on 15 September 1955 , " Balduck " cruised in Japanese and Philippine waters , and participated in amphibious landing exercises until returning to San Diego on 23 March 1956 . Decommissioning and sale . " Balduck " was decommissioned on 28 February 1958 . While in reserve , her designation changed to Amphibious Transport , Small , LPR - 132 , on 1 January 1969 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 July 1975 and sold for scrapping , 6 December 1976 , for $ 60 , 000 , to National Metal and Steel Corp . , Terminal Island , California .