USS ''Clearwater County'' (LST-602), originally USS ''LST-602'', was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

built during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and in commission from 1944 to 1946 and from 1950 to ca. 1957. Named after

Clearwater County, Idaho Clearwater County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,734. The county seat is Orofino. Established in 1911, the county was named after the Clearwater River. The county is home to North ...

, and

Clearwater County, Minnesota Clearwater County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,524. Its county seat is Bagley. Clearwater County is home to Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi Rive ...

, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name. It was transferred to the Mexican Navy.

Construction and commissioning

''LST-602'' was laid down on 23 October 1943 at

Seneca, Illinois Seneca is a village in LaSalle and Grundy counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,353 at the 2020 census, down from 2,371 at the 2010 census. The LaSalle County portion of Seneca is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statis ...

, by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. She was launched on 9 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Adele R. Ziehm, and commissioned on 31 March 1944.

Service history

During World War II, ''LST-602'' was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, in August and September 1944. In 1946 she was decommissioned/ When the

Korean war , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

broke out, ''LST-602'' was recommissioned in 1950 and performed service in the

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n Theater from 26 November 1951 to 25 July 1952 and from 19 July 1953 to 26 February 1954. She participated in the following Korean War campaigns: *Second Korean Winter (22 December 1951 to 14 January 1952, 22 February to 11 March 1952, and 20 to 28 March 1952) *Korea, Summer-Fall 1953 (27 July 1953). On 1 July 1955, ''LST-602'' was renamed USS ''Clearwater County'' (LST-602). She remained in U.S. Navy service until 1957.

Post-U.S. Navy career

''Clearwater County'' was operated by the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

from September 1957 to September 1969, when she was transferred to the temporary custody of the

Maritime Administration Maritime administrations, or flag state administrations, are the executive arms/state bodies of each government responsible for carrying out the shipping responsibilities of the state, and are tasked to administer national shipping and boating issue ...

. She was struck from the

Naval Vessel Register The ''Naval Vessel Register'' (NVR) 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 t ...

on 1 May 1972 and given to

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

on 30 May 1972. In the

Mexican Navy The Mexican Navy is one of the two independent armed forces of Mexico. The actual naval forces are called the ''Armada de México''. The ''Secretaría de Marina'' (''SEMAR'') (English: Naval Secretariat) includes both the ''Armada'' itself and ...

, she served as ARM ''Manzanillo'' (A-402). ''Manzanillo'' helped during operations to help Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005. On 16 November 2011 she was decommissioned.

Awards and honors

''LST-602'' earned one

battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or ser ...

for World War II service and two battle stars for

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

service.

References

: * * LST-542-class tank landing ships Ships built in Seneca, Illinois 1944 ships World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Korean War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Clearwater County, Idaho Clearwater County, Minnesota Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Mexican Navy Amphibious warfare vessels of the Mexican Navy Amphibious warfare vessels of Mexico {{US-mil-ship-stub