USS Park County (LST-1077) - Vietnam War

Vietnam War

In November 1965 Park County was towed from Bremerton to Portland, Oregon for a complete modernization overhaul. On 9 April 1966 she again commissioned and, following shakedown, was assigned to Landing Ship Squadron 3, homeported in Guam.

Park County arrived in Vietnam in late August after carrying marines (Bruce B. Tucker) to Iwakuni, Japan. Her operations in support of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, included participation in Operation Duke off the coast of Tam Quan, RVN in October 1966, and lifts to Cam Ranh Bay, Tuy Hoa, and Qui Nhon. She also spent considerable time in support of Naval Support Activity at Da Nang carrying general cargo, ammunition, troops, and lubricants.

At Vung Tau she relieved Sutter County (LST–1150) on 4 February 1967 for Operation Market Time serving as a base of operations for Coast Guard cutters and Navy Swift Boats and providing them necessary supplies and repairs. She was relieved 4 March by Pitkin County (LST–1082), and departed Vietnamese waters for Hong Kong and Manila.

Park County returned to Da Nang 31 May and resumed operations with the Naval Support Activity. On 22 September she sailed to Guam and got underway 19 November for Yokosuka, Japan. From Yokosuka she conducted amphibious training operations until 2 December when she returned to Da Nang via Taiwan and Subic Bay, arriving 5 January 1968.

At Da Nang she was assigned to the Da Nang-Cua Viet shuttle run. On 29 February she began more Market-Time operations. Park County continued her support of Vietnam operations until 13 December when she got underway for Guam for extensive overhaul. Leaving Guam 18 April 1969 she returned to Da Nang via Buckner Bay and Subic Bay, arriving 11 July.

In July 1970, under the command of Lieutenant T.C Davis (later Lieutenant Commander), the "Park County" returned to Vietnam (from Subic Bay) serving as a member of the “Brown Water Navy.” Lieutenant Davis was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during a “fire-fight” while the "Park County" was on her way to resupply a base northwest of Binh Thuy.

Between July 1970 and August 1971, the "Park County" continued to operate out of Vung Tau carrying and delivering food, supplies, and ammunition to U.S. Military fire bases and installation throughout the Mekong Delta. Bases she visited and supplied included both U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps installations at Binh Thuy, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Long Xuyen, Tan Chau, Cam Ranh, and Nha Trang (and others).

In mid-August 1971, she departed Vung Tau for San Diego, California, via Subic Bay, Guam, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where following her arrival the U.S.S. Park County was decommissioned and ceremoniously turned over (September 1971) to the Armada de México (Mexican Navy or SEMAR) to serve as a Panuco Class Tank Landing Ship.