LST-821 was laid down by Missouri Valley Bridge Iron Works,
Evansville, Ind., 19 September 1944, launched 27 October, sponsored by Mrs. Hugh Robertson
Sr.; placed in partial commission 14 November for the cruise down the Mississippi River;
and commissioned at New Orleans 22 November, Lt. C. J. Rudine in command.
After shakedown off Florida, LST-821 departed New Orleans 27 December for the West Coast
arriving San Diego 18 January 1945. Sailing on to San Francisco and Pearl Harbor, where
she loaded additional cargo, LST-821 arrived Entwetok, Marshall Islands, 7 March. For the
next 5 weeks she operated in the vicinity of Entwetok, Ulithi, and Guam before sailing to
Okinawa.
The campaign against the enemy-held fortress of Okinawa was well under way when
LST-821
arrived 18 April. Five days later she unloaded her cargo of men, vehicles, and supplies
off Ie Shima. On the 24th she embarked 183 men of the 77th Infantry Division and
transported them to the west coast of Okinawa, then returned to Ulithi 5 May for a short
overhaul.
For the rest of the war she shuttled troops and equipment among the U.S. bases in the
Pacific as American forces prepared for a possible assault on the Japanese homeland.
Japan's acceptance of Allied peace terms precluded any invasion of Japan, and
LST-821
continued operations with the occupation forces in the Far East until 11 December when she
sailed for the United States.
The landing ship arrived San Diego 7 January 1946; sailed to Portland in early April and
decommissioned at Vancouver, Wash., 8 July 1946. She remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
for the next 20 years, and was named USS Harnett County
on 1 July 1955.
USS Harnett County re-commissioned 20 August 1966 to help meet the large and growing demand for
ships in the Vietnam war. After shakedown training off San Francisco Bay, she departed for
duty with the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet. After several tours in
Vietnam the USS Harnett County was re-designated
Patrol Craft Tender (AGP-821)
in the spring of 1970. She was decommissioned on 12 October 1970 at
Guam and transferred to South Vietnam under the Security Assistance
Program and renamed My Tho (HQ-800).
The date she was struck from the Naval Register is unknown. She was
transferred to the Philippines on 5 April 1976. Her final disposition is
unknown.
USS Harnett County
earned one battle star for World War II service.
Awards earned during the Vietnam War: Combat
Action Ribbon, (2)
Presidential Unit Citations, (5)
Navy Unit Commendations, RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm,
RVN Civil Action Medal, First Class, with Palm,
RVN Campaign Medal with 60's device and the Vietnam
Service Medal with (10)
Battle Stars.
