High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Fresno was the 4th ship in the Newport class tank landing ships. Fresno was named for a city and county in California. She was laid down on 16 December 1967 at San Diego, California, by the National Steel Shipbuilding Company; launched on 28 September 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Marilyn Hyde; and commissioned on 22 November 1969 with Commander Stanislaus J. Sowinski in command.