USS Hamilton County (LST-802)

The USS "Hamilton" County (LST-802) was an sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as LST-802 on 2 September 1944 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company; launched on 19 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Dolores Alberts; and commissioned on 13 November 1944 with Lieutenant K. G. Adams, USNR, in command. Following shakedown off Florida, LST-802 loaded quonset hut sections at Gulfport, Mississippi and departed New Orleans 18 December. Steaming via the Canal Zone and San Francisco, she arrived Pearl Harbor 4 February 1945. After unloading, she sailed 2 weeks later for the Solomon Islands, arriving Guadalcanal 7 March. LST-802 departed Guadalcanal on the 18th; transported Marines to Guam; then arrived Saipan 3 April to prepare for the Okinawa invasion. She embarked over 150 Seabees at Saipan and sailed on the 12th for the Byukyu Islands. Arriving off Chimu Wan, Okinawa Snima 17 April she unloaded men and equipment to strengthen the beachhead and facilitate the flow of supplies to the troops. For the remainder of World War II LST-802 shuttled troops and equipment between Okinawa and the Philippines. Following the War, LST-802 performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-April, 1946. The ship was decommissioned on 21 July 1946 and transferred to the Shipping Control Authority, Japan, until returned to the Navy and recommissioned on 30 August 1950. She took part in the invasions of Inchon and Wonsan and the evacuation of Hungnam during the Korean War. Following conversion to a mine squadron flagship in 1954, she served with units of Mine Force, Pacific.

Responding to communist aggression against South Korea, the United States met this challenge to freedom by sending American forces to aid the embattled people. To assist in the transportation of cargo and troops, LST-802 re-commissioned at Yokosuka 30 August 1950 with Lieutenant Vladimir Fedorowicz in command. Sailing to Kobe, she embarked units of the 1st Marine Division, for the daring invasion of Inchon; then departing Japan 10 September, she arrived off Blue Beach, Inchon 5 days later. The Marines stormed ashore, and the well planned, and well coordinated invasion caused General Douglas MacArthur's famous remark "The Navy and Marines have never shone more brightly than this morning." LST-802 continued loading equipment and supplies until 15 October when she joined a task group for Wonson. Following a month of cargo operations at Wonson, she returned to Yokosuka for replenishment. In mid-December she was en route to Hungnam, where she assisted in the evacuation of United States and South Korean Forces. During January, 1951 she shuttled troops and prisoners-of-war along the Korean coast, then on 20 March she departed Yokosuka for a stateside overhaul. Returning to the war zone 8 months later, LST-802 resumed cargo and troop transport duty between Japan and Korea. From November, 1951 to June, 1952 the veteran landing ship performed cargo operations, evacuation services, and harbor control duties in the vicinity of Korea. Following another brief period in the United States, LST-802 resumed operations in the Far East, just as the Korean conflict ended; and remained there until February, 1954. One year later she was again operating in the Far East during a crisis over the Tachen Islands. When communist artillery threatened Nationalist Chinese positions on the islands, the veteran LST and other 7th Fleet units evacuated forces and supplies to Formosa. On 1 July 1955 LST-802 was redesignated USS "Hamilton County" (LST-802), then operated off the California coast from August, 1955 to August, 1956.

After returning to the Western Pacific in mid-October, 1956 "Hamilton County" was assigned to Mine Squadron 3, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Equipped with a helicopter, she performed in mine warfare exercises and provided replenishment for minesweepers off Okinawa, Korea, and Japan for the next four years. Loaned to Japan on 20 April 1960 under terms of the Military Assistance Program, "Hamilton" County was decommissioned at Sasebo on 30 June 1960 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July that same year. She now serves the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as JDS "Hayatomo" (MST-461). LST-802 earned one battle star for World War II service and seven stars for the Korean War.

References

*
*
* cite web|title=LST-802 "Hamilton County"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160802.htm|accessdate=June 28|accessyear=2007

ee also

* List of United States Navy LSTs