U.S.S. Harris County, LST 822, was commissioned on Nov. 23, 1944. Carrying the commander of LST Group 68, she led fourteen convoys through enemy waters without a casualty. She participated in the invasion of Okinawa, occupation of Japan, retaking of Iwo Jima, and amphibious training operations at Inchon, Korea, and Kimmu Wan, Okinawa. During the Korean War she was used for re-supply and logistic support, aided in evacuation in French Indo-China, and in June 1955 received orders to lead an expedition to the Arctic on a re-supply mission.