USS Duval County

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|Ship image= File:USN 1131599 USS Duval County (LST-758).png

|Ship caption=Duval County (LST-758) off the Virginia Capes, 27 March 1968

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{{Infobox ship career

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|Ship country=United States

|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1957}}

|Ship name= USS LST-758

|Ship namesake=

|Ship ordered=

|Ship builder= American Bridge Company, Ambridge, Pennsylvania

|Ship laid down= 5 June 1944

|Ship launched= 25 July 1944

|Ship acquired=

|Ship commissioned= 19 August 1944

|Ship decommissioned= 13 July 1946

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{{Infobox ship career

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|Ship recommissioned= 3 November 1950

|Ship decommissioned= 28 October 1969

|Ship in service=

|Ship out of service=

|Ship renamed=USS Duval County (LST-758), 1 July 1955

|Ship reclassified=

|Ship struck= 1 November 1976

|Ship reinstated=

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship nickname=

|Ship honours=*2 battle stars (World War II)

4 battle stars (Korea)

|Ship fate=Sold, 18 August 1981

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{{Infobox ship characteristics

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|Ship class= {{sclass|LST-542|tank landing ship}}

|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1625|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} light

{{convert|3640|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full

|Ship length={{convert|328|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam={{convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship draft=*{{convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on}} forward

{{convert|14|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} aft

|Ship depth=

|Ship propulsion=2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts

|Ship speed= {{convert|12|kn|lk=in}}

|Ship range=

|Ship boats= 2 LCVPs

|Ship troops=Approximately 130 officers and enlisted men

|Ship complement=8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men

|Ship armament=*1 × single 3-inch/50-caliber gun mount

8 × 40 mm guns
12 × 20 mm guns

|Ship armor=

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The USS Duval County (LST-758) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship that was built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Florida and Texas, she was the only U.S. naval vessel to bear the name.

The LST-758 was laid down on June 5, 1944 at Ambridge, Pennsylvania by the American Bridge Company. Launched on July 25, 1944, it was sponsored by Mrs. F. D. Colburn and commissioned on August 19, 1944.

Service history

During World War II, the LST-758 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in February 1945, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Guntō in April through June 1945.

After the war, she performed occupation duty in the Far East until mid-September 1945. The LST-758 was decommissioned on July 13, 1946, and recommissioned on November 3, 1950 for service in the Korean War. She was stationed in Korea until late November 1953. James E. Thompson boarded the 758 in November 1950, and was discharged from it on February 1, 1954.

She was scheduled to leave Korea in July 1953. When the armistice was signed in June, however, she was held over to return prisoners from Koje Do Island to Inchon. Pens were built on the tank deck that held six hundred prisoners. She made three trips to Inchon. She subsequently sailed to Long Beach, California in November.

On July 1, 1955, the ship was redesignated as the USS Duval County (LST-758). Following the Korean War, she saw extensive service with the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets through 1969. She was utilized in the filming of the opening action sequences in the movie "PT 109" in 1962. The Duval County was decommissioned on October 28, 1969. Laid up in the Reserve Fleet, the ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on November 1, 1976. After custody was transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, she was sold by MARAD on August 18, 1981. Her final fate is unknown.

The LST-758 earned two battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars during the Korean War.

She made a brief appearance in the movie PT 109 (film).

Gallery

Image:LST-758 in drydock.jpg|USS Duval County (LST-758) in drydock at San Diego, September 1960, with Martin P5M Marlin flying boat passing overhead