LST-1066 was laid down on 18 January 1945, at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard; launched on 21 February 1945; sponsored by Miss Cynthia L. Rowan; and commissioned on 20 March 1945.

After transferring ammunition to fleet ships, she sailed 18 October, from Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, on the first of two voyages transporting elements of the 6th Army to the Japanese home islands of Honshū and Shikoku for occupation duty.

[4] Though given a name, New London County (LST 1066), on 1 July 1955, the ship remained inactive until the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

The escalating war in Vietnam, a country with limited port facilities, caused New London County and her sister ships to be placed in full commission 21 December 1965.

[4] Home ported at Sasebo, Japan this landing ship spent much of her time unloading supplies, especially cement, along the central coast of South Vietnam.