▁Ber k shire ▁County , ▁Massachusetts , ▁she ▁was ▁the ▁only ▁U . S . ▁naval ▁vessel ▁to ▁bear ▁the ▁name . ▁ ▁L ST - 2 8 8 ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁on ▁ 6 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁at ▁Am bridge , ▁Pennsylvania ▁by ▁the ▁American ▁Bridge ▁Company ; ▁launched ▁on ▁ 7 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Miss ▁Virginia ▁M . ▁P lo f chan ; ▁placed ▁in ▁reduced ▁commission ▁on ▁ 4 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁fer ried ▁down ▁the ▁Ohio ▁and ▁Mississippi ▁R ivers ▁to ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁Louisiana ; ▁and ▁placed ▁in ▁full ▁commission ▁at ▁New ▁Orleans ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁with ▁Lieutenant ▁Ed win ▁L . ▁Mc Cloud , ▁US NR , ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁Service ▁history ▁ ▁In vas ion ▁of ▁France , ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁L ST - 2 8 8 ▁comm enced ▁her ▁sh aked own ▁training ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁New ▁Orleans ▁for ▁her ▁post - sh aked own ▁avail ability ▁on ▁ 4 ▁February . ▁On ▁ 1 4 ▁February , ▁the ▁tank ▁landing ▁ship ▁set ▁sail ▁for ▁New ▁York ▁where ▁she ▁loaded ▁am mun ition . ▁A ▁week ▁of ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁a ▁trans at l antic ▁passage ▁at ▁Boston ▁en su ed , ▁and ▁then ▁she ▁depart ed ▁for ▁Hal if ax , ▁Nova ▁Scot ia ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁March .