USS LST-504 was an built for the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Renamed USS Buchanan County (LST-504) for counties in Iowa

Buchanan County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,958 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,968 housing units, of which 8,161 were occupied.-2000 census:...

, Missouri

Buchanan County, Missouri

Buchanan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 89,201. Its county seat is Saint Joseph. When originally formed in 1838, the county was named Roberts County, after settler Hiram Roberts; it was renamed in 1839 for James Buchanan, then a U.S....

, and Virginia

Buchanan County, Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,978 people, 10,464 households, and 7,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...

 on 1 July 1955, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

LST-504 was laid down on 21 July 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana

Jeffersonville, Indiana

Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...

 by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company; launched on 19 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Griffin; and commissioned on 18 December 1943. During World War II, LST-504 was assigned to the European Theater and participated in the Invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 and the invasion of southern France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 in August and September, 1944. She was then assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Pacific Ocean theater of World War II

The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....

 and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in April and June, 1945. Following the War, LST-504 performed occupation duty in the Far East

Far East

The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...

 until mid-January, 1946. Upon her return to the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, she was decommissioned on 22 January 1946. The ship was redesignated USS Buchanan County (LST-504) on 1 July 1955. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register

Naval Vessel Register

The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...

 on 11 August 1955 and sunk as a target in February, 1956.

LST-504 earned three battle stars for World War II service.

See also

• List of United States Navy LSTs