From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,
Vol. III (1977), pp. 223
Counties in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, New York,
Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.
(LST-802: dp. 1,625; l. 328'; b. 50'; dr. 11'; s. 12 k.; cpl. 268; a. 8
40nm., 12 20mm.; cl. LST-511)
LST-802 was laid down by Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Co., Jeffersonville,
Ind., 2 September 1944; launched 19 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Dolores
Alberts; and commissioned 13 November, Lt. K. J. Adams in command.
Following shakedown off Florida, LST-802 loaded quonset hut sections
at Gulfport, Miss., 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 Ryukyu
Islands.
Arriving off Chimu Wan, Okinawa Shima 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 After the Japanese surrender she remained
in the Far East with the occupation forces operating out of Japan, Okinawa,
and the Philippines to various Pacific islands until she decommissioned
at Guam 21 July 1946.
After 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 recommissioned
at Yokosuka 30 August 1950 Lt. 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 enroute 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 T'achen 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.
LST-802 was named Hamilton County 1 July 1955, 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 helicopters, she performed
in mine warfare exercises and provided replenishment for minesweepers off
Okinawa, Korea, and Japan for the next four years. Hamilton County
decommissioned at Sasebo 30 June 1960, and was loaned to Japan under the
Military Assistance Program. She now serves the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
as Hayatomo (MST-461).
LST-802 received one battle star for World War II service and seven
stars for Korean service.