Pender County LST-1080

Pender County

(LST-1080: dp. 4,080; 1. 328'; b. 50'; dr. 14'1"; s. 11 k.;
cpl. 119; a. 8 40mm.; cl. LST-511)

Pender County (LST-1080) was laid down as USS LST1080 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., Hingham, Mass., 5 April 1945; launched 2 May 1945; and commissioned 29 May 1945

After shakedown, LST-1080 sailed for the Pacific via the Panama Canal. The landing ship performed logistics missions and service force lifts in the Pacific Ocean area throughout the remainder of World War II. After cessation of hostilities, she sailed for the west coast and upon arrival there reported to Columbia River Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, Astoria, Oregon for inactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve 29 August 1946 and berthed in the Columbia River at Tongue Point.

In June 1950 the outbreak of hostilities in Korea caused the reactivation of many vessels of the mothball fleet, including LST-1080. She recommissioned 3 October 1950 and after a short shakedown cruise sailed for the Far East in February 1951, arriving in time to participate in the UN counteroffensive which pushed North Kotean and Chinese armies back beyond the 38th parallel to a point where they were held for the remainder of the Korean conflict. During this time LST-1080 participated in many logistics and personnel lifts and made numerous voyages to and from the combat zone in Korea and the support areas in Japan. The ship returned to the U.S. in carly 1952. After overhaul, she again sailed for the Far East in August 1952 to support United Nations forces defending against intensive communist offensive operations. She continued this duty until she sailed for home shortly before the cessation of hositilities. Upon arrival in the U.S., she was assigned to various training missions on the west coast.

In 1954, LST-1080 was again in the Far East, as a service force transport ferrying supplies and personnel to the United Nations units engaged in the task of reconstructing war-torn Korea. On 31 August 1954, she steamed out of Yokosuka Japan, bound for Indo-China to participate in operation 'Passage to Freedom ' and made several trips from Haiphong to Tourane, Nha Trang and Saigon ferrying indigeneous and French refugees and army personnel out of the area north of the 14th parallel. After leaving Indo-China 13 November 1954, LST-1080 visited Manila and Hong Kong before returning to the United States in February 1955

On 1 July 1955, LST-1080 was named Pender County (LST-1080). She operated out of San Diego sailing for the Far East in the fall of 1956. She arrived at Kobe, Japan, 2 October 1956 and thereafter made four training cruises to areas of Okinawa and Iwo Jima to participate in amphibious warfare landing and invasion maneuvers with elements of the Marine Corps and Army. On 23 January 1957, she departed Yokosuka for home, arriving San Diego 21 February 1957.

On 18 July 1957, she sailed for training maneuvers in the Hawaiian area, returning to San Diego for local operations 31 August 1957.

On 27 September 1957, Pender County arrived at Long Beach, for inactivation. On 2 October she was placed in commlssion in reserve, assigned to the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet and decommissioned 2 January 1958. She was struck from the Navy List 6 February 1959.

Pender County received four battle stars for Korean War service.