From: “Dictionary of American Fighting Ships”

HASKELL CLASS ATTACK TRANSPORTS

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APA-127 Allendale

Haskell Class Attack Transport: Laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull MCV 40) (MC standard type VC2-S-AP5) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington Ca; Launched 9 September 1944; Aquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission; Commissioned USS Allendale (APA-127), 22 November 1944.
After training, the ship embarked with cargo and troops heading for the Philippines with stops at Eniwetok, Ulithi and Palau Islands arriving at Leyte in late March. After participating in the landings at Okinawa, Allendale made another lengthy trip back to the United States, returning quickly to Leyte with more equipment and troops. She was on her way back to the United States when the war ended and shortly thereafter participated in the occupation of Japan, landing troops at Wakayama and Honshu, Japan. After a brief stint with the "Magic Carpet" program, she sailed for the east coast and was decommissioned 14 March 1946 at Norfolk Va; Returned to the Maritime Commission; Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown); Final Disposition, unknown.

 

APA-128 Arenac

A county in Michigan.

(APA-128: dp. 12,450; 1. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; a.. 1 5", 4 40mm., 18 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Arenac (APA-128) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 44) on 9 July 1944 at Wilmington, Calif., by the California Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 14 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. L. D. Worsham; delivered to the Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, Calif., on 24 September 1944 for completion; acquired by the Navy on 8 January 1945; and placed in commission that same day, Comdr. J. H. Carrington in command.

Following shakedown and amphibious training exercises off San Diego, Calif., Arenac took on a load of cargo and shaped a course for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor on 17 March and, during the next two months, operated out of Pearl Harbor carrying personnel and cargo to Eniwetok and Guam.

The vessel reached Ulithi, Caroline Islands, on 12 May; and there embarked troops and took on supplies for support of the invasion of Okinawa. She got underway for that island on 23 May and anchored in waters off Okinawa on the 27th. While awaiting clearance to proceed to the beaches to unload her cargo, Arenac underwent frequent enemy air alerts. She moored off Hagushi beach on 3 June, finished unloading her cargo and passengers by the 5th, and then began taking on personnel for evacuation from Okinawa. The transport left the area on 6 June and set a course for Saipan.

The ship paused at Saipan on the 12th to discharge a few of her passengers, continued on to Guam on the 13th, and remained in port there for six days before returning to Saipan on 20 June. She then began preparations to return to Okinawa. After a stop at Ulithi en route, the vessel arrived back at Okinawa on 5 July.

Following the discharge of her cargo, Arenac got underway on 8 July to return to the west coast of the United States. Port calls at Saipan and Guam preceded the transport's arrival at San Francisco, Calif., on 28 July. Three days later, the vessel entered a shipyard at Richmond, Calif., for an availability. She resumed operations on 11 August and shaped a course for Pearl Harbor. While the ship was en route, she received word of Japan's capitulation ending World War II. Arenac arrived in Hawaiian waters on the 17th and took on personnel for passage to the western Pacific. She set sail for Eniwetok on the 20th and, after a brief pause at that atoll, stood out to sea to rendezvous with a convoy bound for Ulithi.

Arenac reached Ulithi on the last day of August. She got underway for the Philippines four days later and arrived at Manila on 9 September. She debarked her passengers there before moving on to San Fabian, Luzon, on the 18th to take on cargo and embarked troops for transportation to Japan. The ship set sail on 1 October and arrived at Wakayama on the 7th. However, before her passengers went ashore, she was ordered out of the area due to an approaching typhoon. The ship finally put into port at Nagoya, Japan, on 28 October and proceeded to debark her troops for occupation duty. On that same day, the transport was assigned to Service Force, Pacific Fleet, for "Magic-Carpet" duty transporting military personnel from Japan and the Philippines to the west coast of the United States.

In, March 1946, Arenac completed this assignment and shaped a course, via the Panama Canal, for the east coast. She reached Norfolk, Va., on 8 April and began a preinactivation overhaul. The ship was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 10 July 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 October 1958. The vessel was transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up, in the James River.

Arenac earned one battle star for her World War II service.

Submitted by Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

 

APA-128 Attala

A county in Mississippi.

(APA-130: dp. 12,450; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; trp. 1,561; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. . Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Attala (APA-130) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 46) on 18 July 1944 at Wilmington, Calif, by the California Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 27 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Paul Piggot; and simultaneously acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 30 November 1944, Comdr. William S. . G. Davis in command.

After shakedown training along the west coast, the attack transport departed Seattle, Wash., on 31 January 1945. She paused at Pearl Harbor to embark troops and equipment and then got underway on 9 February, bound for Eniwetok. Attala pushed on to Iwo Jima, where she arrived on 13 March. The ship spent several days there disembarking troops and unloading equipment. On the 18th, Attala moored at Saipan to take on wounded marines for passage back to the United States. She stopped briefly at Pearl Harbor to disembark passengers and then continued on to San Francisco.

On 18 April, Attala returned to Pearl Harbor. She then began a week of intensive amphibious training off Maui. Attala embarked replacement personnel, loaded cargo, and got underway on 14 May. She made stops at Saipan and Ulithi before anchoring in Leyte Gulf on 5 June. On that day, she assumed duty as a receiving ship.

Attala left the Philippines on 17 June and made stops at Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor before arriving in San Francisco on 8 July. From 12 until 20 July, Attala was in drydock at a shipyard in Everett, Wash. The ship departed the west coast on 24 July and, on 5 August, reached Eniwetok, where she joined a convoy bound for Okinawa.

On 21 August, Attala dropped anchor off Hagushi beach, Okinawa. Early in September, she took on boar troops and equipment slated for occupation duty in Korea. On the 7th, she arrived at Jinsen, Korea, and-after debarking her charges returned to Okinawa.

Attala took on board marines for transportation to Tsingtao, China. She began debarking them there on 21 November. Attala left Chinese waters on the 23d and began the long journey to the United States. Making only one stop en route at Manila, Philippines, Attala arrived in Los Angeles, Calif, on 18 December.

After voyage repairs and a period of liberty for the crew, Attala resumed operations. On 14 January 1946, she got underway for San Diego. The transport transited the Panama Canal on the 23d and then continued on to Norfolk, Va. She anchored off Hampton Roads on I February and began the deactivation

Proceeding to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va. on 26 February, Attala was decommissioned. She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration for disposal. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 20 March 1946.

Attala earned one battle star for her World War II service.

Submitted by Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

 

APA-149 Audubon

 

 

Audubon

A county in western Iowa named for the great American naturalist and artist who won worldwide renown for his paintings of birds and animals.

(APA-149: dp. 14,837; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 8 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Audubon (MCV hull 814) was laid down on 21 October 1944 by the Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash.; launched on 3 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Fons Hughes; acquired by the Navy on 19 December 1944, designated APA-149, and commissioned on 20 Dece mber 1944, Capt. J. F. Goodwin in command.

Following shakedown at San Pedro, Calif., the attack cargo ship sailed on 24 February for Pearl Harbor. Upon her arrival, her passengers disembarked, and she began loading more cargo. The attack transport got underway for Eniwetok on 29 March reached that atoll on 6 April, and continued on to Ulithi on the 11th. There, Audubon took Army passengers and equipment on board and sailed for Okinawa. She anchored off Hagushi Beach, on 26 April and began discharging her passengers and cargo.

Audubon departed Okinawa on 30 April and headed for Saipan. After a brief stop there, the ship got underway for Hawaii. Having topped off her fuel and provisions at Pearl Harbor, she sailed on to San Francisco, where she arrived on 22 May. The ship was next ordered to Leyte, Philippines. She made intermediate stops at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi before reaching Leyte on 30 June. On 9 July, the ship proceeded to Guadalcanal to transport Army troops to the Philippines. Following a fuel stop at Hollandia, New Guinea, on 17 July, she arrived at Leyte on 26 July. After disembarking most of her passengers' the ship moved on to Cebu on 29 July and the remaining contingent left the ship. Audubon paused at Samar on 2 August, then got underway to return to the United States.

At the time of the Japanese capitulation, Audubon was in the vicinity of Pearl Harbor. The transport pulled into San Francisco on 19 August and began a period of voyage repairs. Upon their completion, Audubon joined Operation "Magic-Carpet" and sailed on 31 August, headed for the Philippines. She arrived at Leyte on 18 September, then shifted to Samar on the 20th. While at Samar, Audubon developed mechanical problems which necessitated a period of drydocking. In early October, the shi p was ordered back to California. On 22 October, she began an availability period at San Pedro.

Audubon sailed once again for the Philippines on 11 November. After negotiating heavy seas, the attack transport arrived at Manila on 1 December. Thirty-six hours later, she sailed with almost 2,000 passengers embarked and reached San Francisco on 20 December.

Audubon began 1946 making preparations for a trip to Yokosuka, Japan. However, just before she was due to leave, her orders were canceled, and she sailed on 11 January for the east coast of the United States. She transited the Panama Canal on 20 Ja nuary and reached Norfolk, Va., on 27 January. The ship was decommissioned on 19 February 1946 returned to the Maritime Commission on 13 March 1946, placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, and laid up in the James River. She was sold on 9 April 1973 to the Union Minerals and Alloys Corp., of New York City, and scrapped.

Audubon earned one battle star for her World War II service.

 

APA-131 Bandera

Bandera is a county in Texas.

(APA-131: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Bandera (APA-131) was launched 6 October 1944 for the Maritime Commission by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. Elmer P. Abernethy, wife of Captain Abernethy; acquired 5 December 1944, and commissioned 6 December 1944, Captain G. C. Miller in command.

Between 1 February and 27 August 1945 Bandera shuttled troops and cargo between Pearl Harbor; Ulithi, Caroline Islands, Guam and Saipan, Marianas Islands and Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. With the cessation of hostilities she made several runs between the Philippine Islands and Inchon, Korea, and arrived at San Francisco 9 December 1945. Between 28 December 1945 and 15 February 1946 she carried passengers between San Francisco and Shanghai, China. On 27 February she departed San Francisco for Norfolk, where she arrived 11 March. She was decommissioned 7 May 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission on the 14th.

 

APA-132 Barnwell

Barnwell

Barnwell is a county in South Carolina.

(APA-132: dp. 6720; l. 456'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; a. 17.7 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Barnwell (APA-132) was launched 30 September 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. M. L. Rhodes; transferred to the Navy 19 January 1946; and commissioned the same day, Captain M. M. Stephens in command.

In March 1945 Barnwell loaded cargo and embarked troops at San Diego and departed for Pearl Harbor arriving 29 March. Between April and June she participated in amphibious training maneuvers in the Hawaiian area and transported cargo and troops to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Guam and Saipan, Marianas Islands; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; and San Pedro Bay, Leyte. On 12 June she left the Philippine Islands for San Francisco, carry Navy and Marine personnel back to the mainland for rehabilitation and rotation.

On 14 July Barnwell departed San Francisco with Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard personnel, as well as mail and classified matter, which she disembarked in the Philippine and Admiralty Islands. During August and September she transported a Seabee battalion from New Caledonia and the New Hebrides to Sasebo, Japan, for occupation duty. In October she delivered Army personnel and cargo to Hiro Wan, Honshu, Japan, from the Philippines. Late in October Barnwell was ordered to "Magic Carpet" duty and sailed to Guam where she embarked nearly 2,000 officers and enlisted men and proceeded to Seattle, Wash., arriving 12 November 1946.

Barnwell was assigned to coastwise personnel transportation duty and operated on the west coast until 15 January 1946 when she was released and ordered to proceed to Norfolk to be placed in reserve. Barnwell was placed out of commission in reserve there 1 February 1947.

 

APA-133 Beckham

 

Beckham

Beckham is a county in Oklahoma.

(APA-133: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Beckham (APA-133) was launched 14 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Frank J. Connolly; transferred to the Navy 9 December 1944; and commissioned the following day, Captain A. Sodergren in command.

Beckham carried troops and cargo from Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; the Marianas; and Okinawa until 5 September 1945. With the cessation of hostilities Beckham operated out of Okinawa on occupation duty until departing for the United States 7 January 1946. Arriving at Norfolk, Va., 7 March 1946, she was decommissioned there 25 April 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission four days later.

Beckham received two battle stars for carrying reinforcements to Iwo Jima (2-9 March 1945) and Okinawa (24-27 June 1945).

 

APA-150 Bergen

Bergen

Bergen is a county in New Jersey.

(APA-150: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Bergen was launched 5 December 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. Donald Campbell, transferred to the Navy 23 December 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain R. B. Vanzant in command.

Bergen joined the Pacific Fleet and shuttled troops and cargo from the west coast to Pearl Harbor and Saipan (2 March-4 July 1945). Departing Pearl Harbor 11 July, she landed her passengers at Okinawa 12 August and sailed 5 September for Inchon, Korea, with occupation troops. Leaving Okinawa again 26 September she carried troops to China and then returned to San Francisco, arriving 20 November. She made another trip to the Philippines (7 December 1945-24 January 1946) to bring home returning servicemen. Decommissioned 24 April 1946, Bergen was returned to the Maritime Commission 2 days later.

 

APA-134 Bland

 

Bland

Bland is a county in Virginia.

(APA-134: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Bland (APA-134) was launched 26 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. A. Collins; transferred to the Navy 14 December 1944; and commissioned the following day, Commander L. E. Eastman, USNR, in command.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Bland made one voyage from California to Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor (16 February-8 April 1945) and one from San Diego to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco (17 April-4 June). She departed San Francisco 26 June for Okinawa, arriving 8 July. After a voyage to Ulithi she returned to Okinawa 5 August. She then steamed to the Philippine Islands, arriving at Leyte 20 August and departed 1 September to support the occupation of Japan.

Bland arrived at Yokohama, Japan, 9 September and remained on occupation duty in the Far East until 18 January 1946. She arrived at San Francisco 7 February and Norfolk, Va., 7 March. She was decommissioned 27 April 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the following day.

 

APA-135 Bosque

 

 

Bosque

Bosque is a county in Texas.

(APA-135: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Bosque (APA-135) was launched 28 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract, sponsored by Mrs. Donald F. Stace; transferred to the Navy 17 December 1944, and commissioned two days later, Captain H. C. Johnson in command.

Bosque joined the Pacific Fleet and arrived at Honolulu, T. H., 25 February 1945. She carried troops and cargo to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Saipan and Guam, Marianas Islands; and Ulithi, Caroline Islands (11 March-15 April 1945), before carrying reinforcements and supplies to Okinawa. After unloading at Okinawa (26-30 April) Bosque returned to San Francisco. She again sailed westward 7 May, via Eniwetok; Ulithi; New Guinea; and Noumea, New Caledonia, to the Philippines, arriving 27 July. There she conducted training exercises until 25 August when she got underway for Japan. Bosque put her passengers ashore at Yokosuka, Japan, 3 September and then returned to the Philippines. After one more voyage to Japan (22 September-3 October) she returned to San Francisco, via Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, and Noumea, arriving 26 October 1945.

Decommissioned 15 March 1946, Bosque was returned to the Maritime Commission 22 March 1946.

Bosque received one battle star for her service in the Pacific.

 

APA-136 Botetourt

 

 

Botetourt

Botetourt is a county in Virginia.

(APA-136: dp. 6720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Botetourt was launched 19 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Terminal Island, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. R. C. Todd; transferred to the Navy 31 January 1945, and commissioned the same day, Commander W. A. Barr, USNR, in command.

Joining the Pacific Fleet, Botetourt left San Francisco 8 April 1945 for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides arriving on the 22nd. She operated out of Espiritu Santo and Manus, Admiralty Islands, until 25 August, carrying Army troops and cargo to Noumea, New Caledonia; Guadalcanal; Tulagi; Leyte, Luzon, and Samar in the Philippines; and Milne Bay, Hollandia, and Lae in New Guinea. The transport departed Manila Bay, Luzon, 25 August and joined TF 33 for the occupation of Japan, landing troops at Yokohama, Japan, 3 September. Botetourt made another voyage from the Philippines to Japan (22 September-6 October) and then (16-30 October) steamed to San Francisco with returning servicemen. She departed San Francisco 15 November for the Far East and until January 1946 shuttled troops from Korea to Japan. She then steamed, via Portland, Oreg., to Norfolk where she was placed out of commission in reserve 5 June 1946.

Recommissioned 23 September 1950, she joined the Atlantic Fleet and commenced amphibious landing exercises along the east coast with various Marine Corps units. During the period May 1951-December 1955 she made a cruise to Argentia, Newfoundland; one to the Mediterranean; one to ports along the North Sea, and eight to the Caribbean.

On 31 January 1956 Botetourt reported to Commander, Philadelphia Group. On 1 February 1956 she was placed in commission in reserve and on 27 April 1956 was placed out of commission in reserve.

 

APA-137 Bowie

 

 

Bowie

Bowie is a county in Texas.

(APA-137: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Bowie (APA-137) was launched 31 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. Shaw; transferred to the Navy 22 December 1944; commissioned the following day, Commander F. L Durnell in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Between 20 February and 27 July 1945 Bowie operated out of Pearl Harbor on troop and cargo runs to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Guam; Saipan; Ulithi; and Okinawa, with one voyage from San Francisco to Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Leyte (17 June-14 July 1945). Remaining at Pearl Harbor, 27 July-1 September, the transport then steamed to Japanese waters where from 22 September to 22 October she supported the occupation. Returning to the United States she was decommissioned at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 8 March 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission 14 March 1946.

Bowie received one battle star for her participation in the Okinawa operation (10-16 May 1945).

 

APA-138 Braxton

 

Braxton

Braxton is a county in West Virginia.

(APA-138: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Braxton (APA-138) was launched 3 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. R. J. Defrees; acquired from the Maritime Commission 28 December 1944; and commissioned 29 December 1944, Commander W. L. Bray, USNR, in command.

Braxton operated as a unit of the 71st and 58th Transport Divisions transporting troops and supplies from the west coast to Pearl Harbor, the Marshall and Caroline Islands, and Okinawa until the end of the war. Following the end of hostilities she transported personnel and supplies from the Philippines and Okinawa to Japan and later participated in "Magic Carpet" operations.

Braxton arrived 23 April 1946 at New York where she loaded personnel, made one trip to Bremerhaven, Germany, and brought back returnees in May. The vessel arrived at Norfolk 4 June 1946 and was placed out of commission 27 June 1946. She was returned to the Maritime Commission 29 June 1946.

 

APA-139 Broadwater

 

Broadwater

Broadwater is a county in Montana.

(APA-139: dp. 6873; l. 455'; b. 82'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Broadwater (APA-139) was launched 5 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. E. Florer; acquired 1 January 1945, and commissioned 2 January 1945, Captain G. G. Herring, Jr., in command.

Broadwater transported troops and cargo in the Marshalls and Philippines from 2 March 1945 until 4 October 1945. Arriving at Tokyo Bay, Japan, 13 October 1945, she operated in Japanese waters as a unit of the naval occupation force until returning to San Diego 11 November 1945.

Broadwater was decommissioned 28 February 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission 1 March 1946.

 

APA-140 Brookings

 

Brookings

Brookings is a county in South Dakota.

(APA-140: dp. 6720: l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Brookings (APA-140) was launched 20 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract, sponsored by Mrs. I. C. Johnson; acquired 5 January 1945; and commissioned 6 January 1945, Captain H. E. Berger in command.

Brookings was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and served with Transport Divisions 57 and 71 as flagship. She transported military personnel and cargo to various Pacific islands during the final months of war and to Japan, Korea, and China following the war's end.

Brookings arrived 25 April 1946 at Yorktown, Va., where she went out of commission in reserve 26 July 1946.

 

APA-141 Buckingham

 

 

Buckingham

Buckingham is a county in Virginia.

(APA-141: dp. 6873: l. 466'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Buckingham (APA-141) was launched 13 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. S. J. Dickey; transferred to the Navy 23 January 1945; and commissioned the same day, Captain H. G. Moran in command.

On 3 April 1945 Buckingham departed the United States for the Pacific where she operated among the Hawaiian, Marshall, Marianas, Caroline, and Philippine Islands transporting troops and cargo. Between 26 September and 19 December 1945 she made two voyages between San Francisco and Japan with men and supplies for the occupation forces.

Buckingham was decommissioned 1 March 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission four days later.

 

APA-142 Clearfield

 

 

Clearfield

A county in Pennsylvania.

APA - 142: dp. 6,720 l. 445' b. 62'

dr. 24' s. 17 k. cpl. 536 a. 1 x 5"

cl. Haskell

Clearfield (APA-142) was launched 21 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. F. L. Chambers; acquired by the Navy 11 January 1945; and commissioned 12 January 1945, Captain F. C. Stelter, Jr., in command.

Clearfield loaded construction battalion troops and cargo at Port Hueneme, Calif., and departed 9 March 1945 for Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Ulithi and Okinawa, where she arrived 17 April, to disembark her passengers and their equipment at Ie Shima, to build an airfield.

She sailed from Okinawa 26 April to load Army replacements at San Francisco and transported these troops to Manila, arriving 23 June. After moving oecupation troops among the Philippine Islands, Clearfield departed Manila 27 August for Tokyo, where she landed soldiers 2 September.

From 4 September 1945 Clearfield operated between Okinawa and Manila and ports in China, supporting the reoccupation of northern China by transporting Marines and Chinese troops. She got underway for Tacoma, Wash., 2 December, and after overhaul, sailed to Norfolk, arriving 4 February 1946. Clearfield was decommissioned 4 March 1946, and returned to the War shipping Administration 6 March 1946.

Clearfield received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA-143 Clermont

Clermont

A county in Ohio.

APA - 143: dp. 6,720 l. 445' b. 62'

dr. 24' s. 17 k. cpl. 536 a. 1 x 5"

cl. Haskell

Clermont (APA-143) was launched 25 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. F. Wells; acquired by the Navy 27 January 1945; converted at Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash.; and commissioned 28 January 1945, Captain F. E. Shoup in command.

Clermont sailed from Port Chicago, Calif., 10 April 1945 for Pearl Harbor, arriving 16 April. Here she conducted training, then embarked the 126th Construction Battalion. She cleared Pearl Harbor 20 May, for Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Okinawa, arriving 24 June to disembark her troops and cargo. She returned to San Francisco 21 July to embark passengers for Pearl Harbor, arriving there 9 August. After taking Marine units and the 116th Naval Construction Battalion on board, she cleared 1 September for Saipan and Sasebo, where she put her passengers ashore for the occupation of Sasebo Naval Base. After a voyage to the Philippines to carry additional occupation troops to Japan, she carried units of the 5th Marines from Sasebo to Peleliu and sailed on 3 November with homeward bound servicemen to San Diego, arriving 23 November.

Clermont made a second "Magic Carpet" voyage between 8 December 1945 and 11 January 1946. Eleven days later she sailed for Norfolk, arriving 4 February. Clermont was decommissioned 1 March 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission 3 March 1946.

Clermont received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA / LPA-144 Clinton

 

 

Clinton

Partial retention of former name Lena Clinton; counties in nine states.

II

APA - 144: dp. 6,720 l. 455' b. 62'

dr. 24' s. 17 k. cpl. 546 a. 1 x 5"

cl. Haskell

The second Clinton (APA-144) was launched 29 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. N. Green; transferred to the Navy 1 February 1945; converted at U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oreg.; and commissioned 1 February 1945, Commander J. A. Ivaldi, USNR, in command.

Clinton cleared San Francisco 17 April 1945 and sailed to land Marine replacement troops and equipment on Okinawa between 27 and 31 May. She transferred battle casualties to Guam where she embarked ground forces of the 7th Bomber Command for transportation to Okinawa, arriving 2 July. When she sailed 6 days later she was carrying over 1,000 Okinawan and Korean prisoners of war for internment in the Hawaiian Islands. Clinton cleared Honolulu 5 August carrying replacement troops to Saipan.

She sailed on to Manila to embark Army occupation troops whom she landed at Tsingtao, China, 11 October 1945. Arriving at Haiphong, French Indo-China, 26 October, she loaded Chinese troops and equipment and carried them to Chinwangtao and Taku for the reoccupation of northern China. Assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty, Clinton embarked homeward-bound servicemen at Manila and sailed 28 November for San Pedro, Calif., arriving 18 December. She continued to the east coast, arriving at Norfolk 2 February 1946. Clinton was decommissioned 2 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 October 1958.

Clinton received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA-145 Colbert

Colbert

A county in Alabama.

APA - 145:      dp. 6,720     l. 445'     b. 62' dr.24'      s. 18 k.       
cpl. 536  a. 1 x 5" cl. Haskell

Colbert (APA-145) was launched 1 December 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp.,
Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. G.
Miller; acquired 7 February 1945 and commissioned the same day, Captain L.
Jeffrey in command. Colbert sailed from San Francisco 15 April 1945 with
passengers for Honolulu, where she remained from 21 April to 20 May, disembarking
her original troops and loading reinforcements for Okinawa, where she arrived 7
June. She sailed on to Ulithi to load Japanese and Korean prisoners of war, with
whom she returned to Pearl Harbor 28 June. After a brief stateside overhaul,
Colbert put to sea 21 July 1945 to carry troops to Ulithi and Okinawa, where she
lay until 5 September. She voyaged to Jinsen, Korea, and Dairen, Manchuria, to
embark Allied soldiers and sailors formerly held prisoner at Mukden, Manchuria,
and returned to Okinawa 16 September. Next day she put to sea to evade a typhoon,
and that same day struck a floating mine, which caused the death of three men and
damaged the ship extensively. Towed back to Okinawa 18 September, she was later
towed to Guam, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco for repairs, reaching the west
coast 30 January 1946. On 26 February 1946, she was decommissioned and
transferred to the War Shipping Administration at Suisan Bay, Calif. Colbert
received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA / LPA-146 Collingsworth

 

USS Collingsworth (APA-146)

A county in Texas.

(APA-146: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Collingsworth (APA-146) was launched 2 December 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., San Pedro, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. R.H. Moulton; acquired 27 February 1945 and commissioned the same day, Captain C.H. Anderson in command.

After one cargo voyage to Pearl Harbor (8 May-4 June 1945), Collingsworth departed Seattle 27 June and sailed by way of Saipan and Ulithi to Okinawa, arriving 12 August. She carried troops for the occupations of Inchon, Korea, and Chinwangtao and Tsingtao, China, until 28 November when she sailed with homeward-bound servicemen for Tacoma, Wash., arriving 19 December. She discharged her passengers and sailed for San Pedro, Cal., the Panama Canal and Norfolk, arriving 28 February 1946. She was decommissioned there 17 March 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 20 March 1946.

 

APA-147 Cottle

 

Cottle

A county in Texas.

APA - 147: dp. 6,873 l. 445' b. 62'

dr. 24' s. 18 k. cpl. 536 a. 1 x 5"

cl. Haskell

Cottle (APA 147) was launched 26 November 1944 by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. B. Decker; transferred to the Navy 14 December 1944; and commissioned the same day, Commander P. S. Creasor in command.

Sailing from Seattle 1 March 1945 with Army troops on board, Cottle carried her passengers to Honolulu where she embarked men of naval construction battalions for transportation to Samar, P.I., arriving 17 April. Returning by way of Ulithi and Guam to load passengers, cargo, and Japanese prisoners of war, she arrived at Pearl Harbor 24 May to embark four underwater demolition teams for San Francisco, arriving 3 June. From 15 June to 7 August she voyaged to Manila with Army troops.

With the end of the war Cottle sailed from San Pedro 24 August, loaded Army occupation troops at Pearl Harbor, and landed them at Wakayama, Japan, 27 September. She embarked homeward-bound servicemen in the Philippines, returning with them to San Francisco 30 October, and following another "Magic Carpet" voyage to the Philippines, sailed from San Francisco 12 January 1946 for Norfolk, arriving 4 February. Cottle was decommissioned 6 March 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission 11 March 1946.

 

APA-148 Crockett

 

Crockett

Counties in Tennessee and Texas.

APA - 148: dp. 6,720 l. 455' b. 62'

dr. 24' s. 17 k. cpl. 536 a. 1 x 5"

cl. Haskell

Crockett (APA-148) was launched 28 November 1944 by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. D. Whitgrove, wife of Captain Whitgrove; acquired by the Navy 18 January 1945; and commissioned the same day, Commander J. R. Bagshaw, Jr., USNR, in command

Departing San Diego 5 April 1945, Crockett discharged troops and cargo at Pearl Harbor from 12 to 27 April, then carried men of a construction battalion to Samar, arriving 17 May. Embarking Army troops, Crockett sailed by way of Ulithi for Okinawa where from 24 to 27 June she unloaded under air attack and embarked survivors of ships lost at Okinawa for transfer to San Francisco. After a short availability in the States (17-30 July), Crockett returned to transport duty in the Pacific, carrying passengers and cargo to Guam, and transporting soldiers from Manila to Aomori, Japan, for occupation duty. She was assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty, returning men eligible for discharge, and arrived at San Diego 21 October with her first group of veterans. Crockett returned from a second voyage to Okinawa on 8 December, sailed from Seattle 12 January 1946, and arrived at Norfolk 1 February. She was placed in commission, in reserve 5 June, and out of commission in reserve 15 October 1946. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 October 1958.

Crockett received one battle star for service in World War II.

 

APA-159 Darke

 

 

Darke

A county in Ohio.

 

(APA - 159: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

 

Darke (APA-159) was launched 29 August 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. Hanson; transferred to the Navy 10 October 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain McF. W. Wood in command.

Departing Port Hueneme, Calif., 4 December 1944, Darke joined in training in Hawaiian waters from 10 December to 27 January 1945, then sailed to Saipan for rehearsal landings. On 16 February she cleared for Iwo Jima, landing men of the 5th Marines during the assault on 19 February. She lay off the bitterly contested island unloading cargo and receiving casualties until 25 February when she sailed for Saipan, arriving 5 March. She sailed to Espiritu Santo to embark Army troops, and carried them by way of Saipan to Ulithi, staging point for the invasion of Okinawa. Darke landed these men as reinforcements at Okinawa from 9 to 14 April, returning to Ulithi 23 April to replenish. Loading two new LCMs at Guam, she got underway for San Pedro Bay, Leyte, arriving 29 May for duty training Army troops until the end of the war.

From 27 August to 6 October 1945 Darke made two voyages carrying troops from San Pedro Bay to Japan for the occupation. Assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty returning servicemen eligible for discharge to the United States, she cleared Hiro, Honshu, 11 October, embarking passengers at Guam, Guadalcanal, and Noumea and arriving at San Francisco 18 November. From 30 November 1945 to 3 February 1946 she made two more voyages to bring home veterans from Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Kwajalein. On 10 February she got underway from San Francisco for the east coast, arriving at Norfolk 27 February. Darke was decommissioned 17 April 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 22 April 1946.

Darke received two battle stars for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT

 

APA-160 Deuel

 

Deuel

Counties in Nebraska and South Dakota.

(APA - 160: dp. 6,720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell) Deuel (APA-160) was launched 9 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. Himmelright; transferred to the Navy 13 October 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain D. G. McMillan in command. Deuel sailed from San Diego 25 November 1944, and after training at Pearl Harbor staged at Saipan for the invasion of Iwo Jima. On 19 February 1945 she helped land the 5th Marines in the initial assault. She stood off the island for 6 days, embarking casualties for transportation to hospitals at Guam. After replacing her boats at Florida Island, and training at Espiritu Santo, she sailed from Ulithi 4 April to transport support troops to Okinawa where she embarked casualties for transfer to Saipan. From 28 May to 27 August 1945 Deuel operated in the Philippines on transport and training duty. She carried Army troops to Japan for occupation duty in September, then returned to San Pedro Bay, Leyte to embark more troops and a civil administration party which she landed at Kure between 5 and 11 October. Assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty, she carried servicemen from the Pacific home to the west coast until January 1946, then sailed for the east coast where she was placed out of commission 17 May 1946, berthed at Norfolk. Recommissioned 23 October 1950 Deuel operated from her base at Norfolk on exercises on the east coast and in the Caribbean. In the summer of 1951 she transported an Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment and a Naval Beach Unit to Thule, Greenland. Between 21 August 1952 and 6 February 1953 she sailed to where she took part in Operation "Mainbrace," the NATO amphibious exercises in Denmark, and then continued to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet. Between 5 August and 23 October 1953 Deuel voyaged by way of the Panama Canal to bring Marines to Yokohama, Japan, and in 1952 and 1955 she delivered naval construction Batallion [sic; Battalion] men and equipment to Casablanca, French Morocco. Deuel was placed out of commission in reserve 27 June 1956. Deuel received two battle stars for World War II service.Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-161 Dickens

 

 

Dickens

A county in Texas.

(APA - 161: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell) Dickens (APA-161) was launched 8 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. M. Owens; transferred to the Navy 18 October 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain R. M. Ingram, USNR, in command. Dickens arrived at Pearl Harbor 11 December 1944 with an unusual cargo, $150 million worth of occupation script for use later in the war. From 11 December to 27 January 1945 she conducted amphibious training operations with elements of the 5th Marines, then sailed by way of Eniwetok and Saipan, to Iwo Jima for the initial assault landings 19 February. She remained off Green Beach under famed Mount Suribachi until 25 February when she sailed for Saipan carrying casualties and 455 survivors of Bismarck Sea (CVE-95). After her landing craft were replaced at Tulagi, Dickens rehearsed at Espiritu Santo, then sailed from Ulithi 4 April 1945 for support landings on Okinawa between 9 and 14 April. Returning to Saipan with casualties 18 April, she embarked reinforcements at Guam and landed them on Okinawa from 15 to 19 May, again returning to Saipan with casualties and troops relieved of duty at Okinawa. On 1 June Dickens entered Subic Bay where she joined in amphibious training until the cessation of hostilities. On 25 August 1945 Dickens sailed for Japan with Occupation troops whom she landed at Tokyo Bay 2 September. She returned to the Philippines until 20 October when she stood out for Seattle, arriving 9 November. She was assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty and made one voyage to Tacloban, Philippine Islands, and one to Pearl Harbor, to bring home returning veterans until 4 March when she sailed for the east coast. Arriving at Norfolk 23 March Dickens was decommissioned there 21 May 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the same day. Dickens received two battle stars for World War II service.Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-162 Drew

 

Drew

A county in Arkansas.

 

(APA - 162: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

 

Drew (APA-162) was launched 14 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. G. De Garmo; and commissioned 22 October 1944, Commander D. H. Swinson, USNR, in command.

Drew sailed from San Pedro, Calif., 10 December 1944 with passengers for Seattle where she loaded cargo, departing on the 18th for Honolulu. She sailed from Pearl Harbor 8 January 1945 to deliver cargo to Guam and Ulithi during her passage to Leyte where she arrived 10 February. After training and rehearsal landings, she sailed 21 March for the invasion of Okinawa, and on 26 March began landing her troops on Kerama Retto and other small islands off Okinawa.

Drew landed assault troops 16 April 1945, returning to Okinawa the next day with casualties aboard. She carried out demonstration landings on Okinawa 19 April, then returned to Ie Shima the following day with reinforcements, carrying casualties back to Okinawa. On 26 April Drew sailed for Ulithi and a brief overhaul.

Returning to San Francisco 14 June 1945 Drew carried soldiers from the west coast to Manus and after the end of the war, made two voyages to Japan, carrying occupation troops out, and returning veterans to the United States until her arrival at Tacoma, Wash., 16 December 1945. Drew was placed out of commission 10 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 19 May 1946.

Drew received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-163 Eastland

 

 

Eastland

A county in Texas.

 

(APA-163: dp. 6,700; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 546; a. 1 5", cl. Haskell)

 

Eastland (APA-163) was launched 19 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., for the Maritime Commission; sponsored by Mrs. Allan Hunger; transferred to the Navy and commissioned 26 October 1944, Commander G. L. Harriss in command.

Eastland sailed from San Pedro, Calif., 26 December 1944, carrying 64 naval aviators to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on New Year's Day 1945. She continued west on 17 January transporting men to Eniwetok, Kossol Roads, and Peleliu before arriving at Leyte, 9 February. After amphibious training, Eastland sailed from Leyte 21 March for Kerama Retto, the islands which proved the indispensable stepping stone and logistic base for invading and holding nearby Okinawa.

Arriving Kerama, 26 March, she landed her troops without opposition on Yakabi Shima and remained in the archipelago until 26 April. Several times during that period, Eastland fired on planes which attacked the anchorage; though not damaged herself, the transport splashed at least three enemy aircraft.

After a month at Ulithi, Eastland sailed into San Francisco Bay on 11 June 1945. She replenished her stores and embarked passengers and cargo at Eniwetok, Ulithi, San Pedro Bay and Leyte, from which she returned to the Golden Gate, 13 August.

She sailed again 24 August to carry replacement soldiers to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, arriving 14 September. After interisland transport duty until September, she put out for Hakodate, Japan, where she discharged occupation troops and their supplies from 4 to 7 October.

Eastland continued on transport duty in the western Pacific, lifting marines from Guam to Taku Bar, then reached Inchon to embark homeward-bound servicemen for Portland, arriving in the Columbia River 2 December 1945. She made another such "Magic Carpet" voyage between Seattle and Yokosuka from 17 December 1945 to 28 January 1946. Two days later, she sailed for San Francisco and Norfolk, arriving 24 February.

Eastland was decommissioned there 15 April 1946 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration the following day for disposal.

Eastland received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-164 Edgecombe

 

 

Edgecombe

A county in North Carolina.

 

(APA - 164: dp. 6,720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

 

The second Edgecombe (APA-164) was launched 24 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Esther S. Wilson; and commissioned 30 October 1944, Commander F. W. Wauchope, USNR, in command.

Edgecombe began transport duty along with her shakedown when she carried the 68th CB's from Seattle to San Francisco in November 1944. After training at San Pedro she sailed the last day of 1944 from San Francisco with cargo for Finschhafen. She joined a convoy at Hollandia and arrived at Leyte 6 February 1945 to land reinforcements.

After intensive training with the 5th Amphibious Force, Edgecombe sailed 27 March 1945 for Okinawa. She landed her troops in the initial assault 1 April and remained off the beach 6 feverish days unloading cargo and embarking casualties for evacuation to Saipan. She sailed on to Pearl Harbor and reached Han Francisco in May.

Assigned to carry troops from the west coast to the Philippines, Edgecombe was on the second such voyage when the war ended. In September she transported occupation troops from Leyte to Aomori, Honshu. Returning to the west coast, Edgecombe was assigned "Magic Carpet" duty, and twice went to the western Pacific to bring home servicemen eligible for discharge. On 11 February 1946 she got underway from Portland, Oreg., for Norfolk which she reached 16 March. There she was placed out of commission in reserve 31 January 1947. Edgecombe was returned to the Maritime Commission 1 October 1958.

Edgecombe received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-165 Effingham

 

 

Effingham

Counties in Georgia and Illinois for which APA-165 was named.

 

(APA - 165: dp. 6,720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

 

The first Effingham (APA-165) was launched 29 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. C. Casada; transferred to the Navy 19 July 1944; and commissioned 1 November 1944, Commander C. H. McLaughlin, USNR, in command.

Sailing from San Francisco 2 January 1945, Effingham trained at Guadalcanal with the 1st Marines, then staged at Ulithi for the invasion landings on Okinawa 1 April. For 6 days she remained off the island, unloading her cargo and fighting off enemy air attacks. She returned to San Francisco for overhaul, then arrived back at Okinawa 12 August. With the end of the war, she transported troops to Jinsen, Korea, and Taku, China, for the reoccupation of those countries. In October and November she embarked Chinese troops at Hong Kong for transfer to Chinwangtao and Tsingtao. She returned to the west coast in December bringing home servicemen, and after a similar voyage to the Far East on "Magic Carpet" duty, sailed for the east coast. She was decommissioned at Norfolk 17 May 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal 3 days later.

Effingham received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)

 

APA-166 Fond Du Lac

 

 

Fond du Lac

 

A county in Wisconsin.

 

(APA - 166: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

 

Fond du Lac (APA-166) was launched 5 October 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Mrs. Giles French; acquired and commissioned 6 November 1944, Captain E. P. Creehan in command.

Fond du Lac sailed from San Francisco 11 January 1945, laden with troops and cargo for Leyte Gulf, where she landed them as reinforcements 17 February. After training for the initial assault on Okinawa Gunto, Fond du Lac stood out of Leyte Gulf 27 March, landed troops and equipment on the assault beaches 1 to 5 April, and sailed with casualties for Guam. She continued to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco to reload, and brought her troops to the Philippines 10 June.

The attack transport transferred men from New Guinea to the Philippines before sailing 14 July 1945 for San Francisco. She returned to the Far East 22 September at Sasebo with Marine occupation troops, and after one voyage to the Philippines to bring additional occupation forces to Japan, sailed home from Guam with servicemen eligible for discharge. Fond du Lac voyaged to the Far East on transport duty again in December, then made her last voyage to Pearl Harbor the next month, sailing from San Francisco 8 February for Norfolk. There she was decommissioned 11 April 1946, and returned to her owner two days later.

Fond du Lac received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-167 Freestone

 

 

Freestone

 

A county in Texas.

 

(APA - 167: dp. 6,720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell) Freestone (APA-167) was launched 9 October 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Mrs. Arthur R. Ponto; and commissioned 9 November 1944, Captain C. L. Carpenter in command.

Freestone arrived at Pearl Harbor 14 January 1945 with passengers and cargo from the west coast, and 6 days later sailed to land troops from Pearl Harbor on Saipan. Moving on to Ulithi, Freestone loaded Marines and their equipment and sailed to Leyte for intensive training in preparation for the Okinawa landings. She sortied from Leyte Gulf 27 March, remained in the outer transport area during the assault on 1 April, then moved close inshore to land her men in one of the later waves of landing craft. Next day she splashed a lone enemy aircraft, and on 7 April she was underway with casualties for Guam.

Continuing to San Francisco, Freestone arrived 11 May 1945 to embark soldiers and sailors for transportation to Manila, arriving 12 June. She voyaged to New Guinea to bring more soldiers to Manila, then sailed for the west coast with homeward bound servicemen. On two cruises to the western Pacific between 4 August and 23 December, she redeployed men and equipment in the Philippines and to Japan from various bases returning from both cruises with servicemen eligible for discharge. On 14 February 1946, she sailed from San Francisco for Norfolk, where she was decommissioned 17 April 1946, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration 2 days later.

Freestone received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-168 Gage

 

 

Gage

A county in Nebraska.

 

 

(APA - 168: dp. 14,837; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5', cl. Haskell)

 

Gage was built under Maritime Commission contract by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; launched 14 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. H. L. Edmunds; acquired by the Navy 4 November 1944; and commissioned 12 November 1944, Comdr. L. J. Alexanderson, USNR, in command.

After shakedown out of San Diego, Calif., Gage sailed from San Francisco 17 January 1945 for the South Pacific. Following the landing of a military civil affairs group at Kaurimarau, Russell Islands, she arrived off West Kokum Beach, Guadalcanal, S.I., 4 February 1945 with 298 marines and military cargo. She became a unit of Division 34, Transport Squadron 12, and spent the ensuing weeks in amphibious warfare maneuvers in the Solomons. On 15 March 1945, the attack transport departed Guadalcanal for Ulithi, the staging base for the Okinawa invasion. From there she sailed to Hagushi Beach, Okinawa, where she joined in the initial assault 1 April 1945 conducted under cover of heavy naval gun and plane bombardment.

Through five grueling days and nights of almost continual "Flash Red" alerts against Japanese suicide planes, Gage landed marines of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment, 6th Division; a Navy construction battalion; a medical company, and combat equipment. Her mission completed 5 April, she proceeded via the Marianas and Hawaii to San Francisco, where she arrived 11 May 1945. Here Gage embarked the men and equipment of an Army Air Corps Casuals and landed them at Manila, Luzon, P.I., 12 June 1945.

Gage reported for duty with Amphibious Group 9 at Leyte 22 June 1945 and was dispatched to New Guinea. After embarking troops at Langemak and Humboldt Bays for transport to Iloilo, Panay Island, P.I., she steamed to San Francisco, Calif., where she arrived 2 August 1945. The announcement of Japanese capitulation found her under repair in Todd's Dry Dock at Seattle, Wash.

Gage stood out from Seattle 21 August 1945 with 1,724 Army casual replacements who disembarked at Saipan in the Marianas 5 September. Thirteen days later she departed with some 1,500 marines whom she landed late in October as part of the occupation forces at Hiro Wan Honshu, Japan. Homeward bound, she served as the "Magic-Carpet" for 1,700 Army veterans embarked at Okinawa and Manila. She reached Portland, Oreg. 14 December 1945. The attack transport made a "Magic Carpet" voyage from San Francisco to Yokosuka and back (10 January to 25 February 1946); followed by one to Samar, P.I., and back (4 April to 10 May 1946). She again departed San Francisco 28 May 1946 to support Navy occupation forces at the Chinese ports of Tsingtao and Tientsin and the Japanese ports of Yokosuka and Sasebo.

Gage departed Sasebo 26 June; embarked Army veterans in the Marianas and Hawaii; then transited the Panama Canal for Norfolk, arriving 29 July 1946. She remained in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard until decommissioning 26 February 1947. Gage was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and was inactive until her name was struck from the Navy List 1 October 1958. She was transferred the same day to the Maritime Commission Reserve Fleet and at present is berthed in James River, Va.

Gage received one battle star for World War II service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA / LKA-169 Gallatin

 

 

Gallatin

Albert Gallatin, born in Switzerland 29 January 1761, emigrated to America in 1780 and began his political career eight years later in a conference held at Harrisburg, Pa., to consider revising the U.S. Constitution. The following year, he was prominent in the convention which revised the Pennsylvania Constitution. After serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1790 to 1792, Gallatin was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1793. During the "Whisky Rebellion," he helped avert civil war by persuading an angry mob to submit peacefully. After serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1795 to 1801, he became Jefferson's Secretary of the Treasury and served with distinction in that post until 1814. His supervision of the Nation's finances was noted for frugal and efficient administration.

In May 1813, President Madison, upon receiving from the Tsar an offer of mediation to end the war with England, sent Gallatin to Russia as peace commissioner. Although the mediation effort failed, Gallatin remained in Europe to help negotiate thc Treaty of Ghent which Henry Adams called "the special and peculiar triumph of Mr. Gallatin."

After the war, Gallatin, as Minister to France and later as Minister to England, worked assiduously to improve American commercial relations with the nations of Europe. In 1927 [sic; 1827], he retired from public office and devoted his talents to commercial activities and to the study of American Indians. He died at Astoria, Long Island, N.Y., 12 August 1849.

Counties in Illinois, Kentucky, and Montana were named for Albert Gallatin. The first Gallatin was named for Albert Gallatin; the second Gallatin was named for the counties.

 

(APA - 169: dp. 14,837; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 25'6"; s. 18 k.; cpl. 560; a. 1 5", 8 40mm.; cl. Haskell)

 

The second Gallatin was built under Maritime Commission contract by the Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, Oreg.; launched 17 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Loran T. King of Portland; acquired by the Navy on a loan charter basis 15 November 1944 and commissioned the same day at Astoria, Oreg., Comdr. Frank S. Dowd in command.

After shakedown training out of San Pedro, Calif., Gallatin departed San Diego 18 January 1945 with more than a thousand troops plus cargo. In the ensuing months she carried passengers and military cargo to ports throughout the Pacific, supporting the final blows which forced Japan to surrender. She visited Hawaii; the Marshall Islands; the New Hebrides; New Caledonia; the Philippines; New Guinea; and the Admiralty Islands. She sailed from the Philippines for the west coast and arrived San Francisco with nearly 1,500 weary war veterans 10 August 1945. Eight days later she headed west again with as many troops for garrison duty at Lingayen Gulf, P.I. During October she steamed to Japan with vehicles, stores, and advance elements of the Army's 25th Division which she landed at Honshu as occupation forces.

Assigned to "Magic-Carpet" duty, Gallatin carried nearly 2,000 marines and other military veterans home from the Philippines and Hawaii. She reached San Diego with her veteran passengers 20 November 1945, and then made another "Magic-Carpet" voyage to the Philippines which terminated at San Diego 26 January 1946. After transiting the Panama Canal, she decommissioned at Newport News, Va., 23 April 1946; was returned to WSA the following day; and was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Va., where she remains.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-170 Gosper

 

 

Gosper

A county in southern Nebraska.

(APA - 170: dp. 6,720; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Gosper (APA-170) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., 20 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. E. P. Nelson; transferred to the Navy and commissioned 18 November 1944, Comdr. F. W. McCann in command.

Gosper sailed for Seattle to load supplies 29 November and arrived San Francisco 6 December to take on landing craft. The ship then departed for shakedown training off the coast of southern California followed by amphibious exercises, and return to San Diego 6 January 1945. Loading troops and supplies, the transport sailed for Pearl Harbor on two voyages to aid in the Navy's great push across the Pacific, arriving there for the second time 27 February.

At Pearl Harbor it was decided to convert Gosper into a much-needed casualty evacuation transport, and she was furnished with operating rooms and other hospital facilities. The ship was to take part in the historic Okinawa invasion, and departed Pearl Harbor 18 March for Ulithi, where she arrived 31 March.

Gosper arrived Kerama Retto 6 April, just 5 days after the initial landings on nearby Okinawa. During that grim day the ship was almost constantly under suicide attack as the Japanese tried desperately to stop the invasion. Gosper shot down at least one attacker that day, while transports Hobbs Victory and Logan Victory and LST-447 were sunk. The ship remained at Kerama Retto caring for casualties of the bitter fighting ashore until 17 April, after which she sailed to Ulithi and Guam, unloading her wounded at the Naval Hospital 24 April.

Sailing to Saipan, Gosper loaded over 1,000 reserve combat troops and got underway for Okinawa again, arriving off the beaches 1 May. Until 10 July she stayed at anchor at Kerama Retto, caring for the casualties and helping to fight off the air raids incessantly mounted by the Japanese. She sailed to Buckner Bay, on the east side of Okinawa, 10 July, and from there joined a convoy to Ulithi, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco, where she arrived 7 August 1945.

Under repair when the war ended, Gosper was pressed into use carrying occupation forces to the Far East. She sailed 26 August for the Philippines, anchoring at Manila 15 September. There she took on board, because of her medical facilities, a large group of American, British, and Canadian servicemen who had been prisoners of war on Japanese-held islands, some since 1941. She carried these veterans via Pearl Harbor to Seattle, where she arrived 12 October. Gosper then joined the "Magic-Carpet" fleet for the gigantic task of bringing home the combat-weary soldiers from the Pacific, sailing from Seattle 26 October. She made two passages to Pearl Harbor and back, carrying veterans, and departed 8 February 1946; for the East Coast, via the Panama Canal. Gosper arrived Newport News, Va., 24 February 1946, and decommissioned 10 April 1946. She was subsequently returned to the Maritime Commission and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River, Va., where she remains.

Gosper received one battle star for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-171 Granville

 

 

Granville

A county in North Carolina.

(APA - 171: dp. 12,450; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Granville (APA-171) was launched 23 October 1944 by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Lowell Stockman; transferred to the Navy 21 November 1944 and commissioned the same day, Captain R. A. MacKerracher in command.

Granville began her transport duties when she cleared San Francisco 26 January 1945 carrying passengers to Pearl Harbor, the Marshalls, Carolines and Marianas. Departing Honolulu 18 April 1945 Granville sortied from Saipan 2 May to land 1,350 troops of the 10th Army on Okinawa 6-8 May. Already begun, Okinawa was the climax of America's amphibious sweep across the Pacific.

Departing Okinawa 15 May 1945 Granville delivered casualties to San Francisco 10 June via Ulithi, Guam and Pearl Harbor. Clearing San Francisco 26 June she called again at Okinawa with more troops. Granville departed Okinawa 23 August and loaded occupation troops at Lingayen Gulf 10-20 September 1945. Putting her troops ashore at Wakayama, Japan, 25 September she called at Mindanao, P.I., 9-14 October to embark 1,447 troops of the 2d Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment. Granville sailed from Mindanao 15 October and landed her troops at Matsuyama 21-24 October 1945; part of the 5th Fleet landing of X Corps (Central Occupation Group), 6th Army in Kyushu and western Honshu.

Departing Matsuyama, Japan 28 October 1945, Granville was assigned to the "Magic-Carpet" fleet carrying veteran troops to the United States from the Solomons, New Guinea, Admiralties, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia. She returned to San Francisco from her last voyage 25 January 1946, sailed from San Francisco 15 February and reached Norfolk 9 March 1946 via the Canal Zone.

Granville decommissioned there 10 May 1946. She was returned to the Maritime Commission the next day and her name stricken from the Navy List 21 May 1946. Placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, she is now berthed in James River, Va.

Granville earned one battle star for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-172 Grimes

 

 

Grimes

A county in Texas.

(APA - 172: dp. 14,837; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5", 12 40mm.; cl. Haskell)

Grimes (APA-172) was acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on loan charter basis 23 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Harry Fielding; and commissioned 23 November 1944, Captain J. McDonald Smith in command.

After shakedown out of San Pedro, Grimes returned to Seattle 25 January 1945; embarked over 240 troops; then departed Seattle 1 February for Honolulu in support of the Navy's great Pacific offensive. After conducting exercises off Maui Island, Grimes was underway 20 February 1945, with Transport Division 59 and anchored off the northeast coast of recently secured Iwo Jima 14 March and began embarking units of the 4th Marine Division for evacuation to the Philippine area. While riding to anchor Grimes was brought under fire at a distance of about 1,000 yards from small arms positioned in caves and crevices near the waters edge. No damage or casualties resulted. Grimes cleared the area 20 March and discharged 1,618 passengers at Pearl Harbor 4 April 1945.

After shuttling troops among the Hawaiian Islands, Grimes departed Honolulu with officers and enlisted patients of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine. Reaching San Francisco 30 May 1945, she disembarked her passengers, then sailed for Seattle. With 1,512 Army and Navy passengers on board, the transport sailed from Seattle 16 June and discharged troops at Honolulu and Okinawa before putting in at Guam 14 August. Here she took aboard 900 officers and men of the 6th Marine Division and 8 war correspondents. Sailing the next day Grimes rendezvoused with units of the 3d Fleet 19 August for the initial occupation of Japan; she anchored in Tokyo Bay 30 August 1945 and landed her troops and cargo for the occupation of Yokosuka Naval Base without incident.

Grimes, sortied from Tokyo Bay 1 September 1945 as part of Task Unit 30.3.5 en route Saipan to lift units of the 2d Marines for the occupation of Nagasaki. Sailing from Saipan 18 September she put her troops ashore 23-25 September 1945. Grimes carried out her transport duties in the Pacific until 15 June 1946 when she sailed from Sasebo, Japan. Going by way of the Canal Zone she reached Norfolk 13 July.

Grimes remained at Norfolk and decommissioned there 26 February 1947. She remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until 1 October 1958, when her name was struck from the Navy List and she was transferred to the Maritime Commission. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Wilmington, N.C., and in October 1964 she was transferred to James River, Va.

Grimes received one battle star for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-117 Haskell

 

Haskell

Counties in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

(APA - 117: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 503; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Haskell (APA-117), a "Victory ship" transport type, was launched 13 June 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. L. Friedell, wife of the Commandant of the 11th Naval District; and commissioned 11 September 1944, Comdr. A. L. Mare in command.

Following her shakedown cruise, Haskell arrived San Francisco 19 October and began loading troops and supplies destined for the Pacific. Underway 28 October, she set course for Finschafen [sic; Finschhafen], New Guinea, and arrived 15 November 1944. Four days later the transport anchored at Biak Island to unload her troops, who were to take part in the developing New Guinea offensive.

Haskell sailed via Mios Woendi to Noemfoor Island, 23 November-2 December, where preparations were underway for the important landings at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. At staging areas throughout the western Pacific ships such as Haskell loaded troops and made practice landings prior to the actual assault. After exercises at Japen Island [sic; Japten Island], Haskell departed in convoy for the Philippines 4 January 1945. A part of Rear Admiral Conolly's reinforcement echelon, Haskell and the other transports arrived off Lingayen Gulf 11 January, 2 days after the initial landings. Haskell's group escaped attack while sailing the treacherous route through the Philippines. After unloading her troops and cargo, Haskell departed the next day, but not before her gunners had shot down their first enemy aircraft during an air raid on the 11th.

The transport sailed for Leyte Gulf 15 January 1945, loaded troops, and took part in a practice landing at Tacloban, Leyte. The ship departed with Rear Admiral Struble's amphibious group 26 January for the Zambales landing north of Subic Bay, Luzon. This unopposed landing was carried out 3 days later and helped to cut off the Bataan Peninsula and hasten the fall of Manila. Haskell returned to Leyte Gulf 1 February 1945.

With control of the Philippines secured, Haskell was next assigned to the giant Okinawa operation. She completed loading troops and supplies at Leyte 13 March 1945 and after amphibious exercises sailed 27 March for Okinawa. This massive invasion, climax of the Pacific island-hopping campaign, began 1 April. Haskell was a member of Rear Admiral Hall's Southern Attack Force, and debarked units of the 7th Division with their equipment during the first waves of the assault. During the first days of the bitter struggle she also served as an emergency hospital ship and cared for many casualties at her off shore anchorage. After unloading her troops and cargo, the transport sailed 6 April for Saipan, Marianas, thus escaping the heavy Japanese air counterattacks so valiantly endured by the ships remaining at Okinawa. Stopping at Saipan only briefly, Haskell steamed independently via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, where she arrived 1 May.

The ship underwent needed repairs and embarked Navy and Coast Guard personnel for the Pacific and sailed the 23d for Noumea. Arriving 9 June 1945, the ship began a series of transport voyages to various ports in the Pacific, providing men and cargo at Guadalcanal, Eniwetok, and Guam. She arrived Apra Harbor, Guam, 1 July and embarked 83 Japanese prisoners of war for transfer to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 15 July. From Pearl Harbor Haskell sailed to San Francisco 22 July and Seattle 12 August.

While Haskell loaded at Seattle the war ended, and she assumed a new role, that of bringing occupation troops to the Pacific and transporting returnees to the United States. She sailed 20 August for Okinawa and after stops at Eniwetok and Ulithi arrived 11 September and unloaded her troops. Soon afterward, 16 September, the ship was forced to put to sea to ride out the giant typhoon which swept the area and after 2 days of grueling heavy weather returned to Okinawa.

Haskell's role was as a transport for over 1,400 allied prisoners of war released from enemy prison camps. These wasted veterans were offloaded at Manila 25 September, and the ship sailed for the United States 1 October with 1,800 member of the Eastern Air Forces. After a stop at Eniwetok Haskell arrived San Francisco 19 October 1945.

As a unit of the "Magic-Carpet" fleet Haskell made two more voyages to the Far East during the gigantic task of returning American servicemen to their homes. These passages, to Okinawa and Japan, terminated with Haskell's arrival at Seattle, Wash., 2 February 1946. Designated for return to the Maritime Commission, the ship sailed to Norfolk, Va., via the Panama Canal, and arrived 21 March 1946. Haskell decommissioned 22 May 1946 and was returned 2 days later. Placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1956, Haskell was berthed at Wilmington, N.C., until 1965 when she transferred to James River, Va., where she remains.

Haskell received two battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-118 Hendry

Hendry

A county in Florida.

(APA - 118: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Hendry (APA-118) was launched under Maritime Commission contract 24 June 1944 by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. James K. Herbert; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 29 September 1944, Captain R. C. Welles in command.

Following a rigorous shakedown cruise Hendry sailed 23 October for Pearl Harbor, arriving 29 October. The transport then took part in extended amphibious training operations, designed to bring assault forces and ship's crews to a peak of readiness for the climactic operations ahead in the Pacific. She departed 11 December with troops to Midway, returning 9 days later, and got underway again 27 January, this time for the giant invasion of Iwo Jima. Hendry arrived Saipan to join the invasion fleet 11 February, and departed 16 February for Iwo Jima. Her troops were among the initial invasion forces early on the morning of 19 February, and for the 6 days that followed Hendry unloaded troops and supplies on the beaches, retiring at night under escort protection. Her gunners were busy during this dangerous period; Japanese planes succeeded in sinking escort carrier Bismarck Sea and damaging Saratoga but suffered heavy losses. Hendry sailed for Saipan 25 February, arriving 3 days later.

Hendry remained in the Saipan area until late March, taking part in training for the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific, the capture of Okinawa in Japan's back yard. She sailed 27 March as part of a mighty armada, called by British observers "the most audacious and complex enterprise yet undertaken by the American amphibious forces." Arriving Easter Sunday, the morning of the first landings, Hendry put ashore her troops and for the next 10 days survived fierce kamikaze attacks, which took a heavy toll on American transports and escort vessels in the Okinawa area but were themselves destroyed and did not even check the steady progress of the invasion. Her gunners and those of the supporting ships kept Hendry free from damage until she departed the bitterly contested island 10 April.

After her arrival at Saipan 14 April, the transport sailed to Tulagi, Espiritu Santo, Eniwetok, and Guam, with troop contingents, departing Guam 21 July 1945 for the United States. She arrived San Pedro 6 August and after the surrender sailed 26 August for the western Pacific. Hendry embarked occupation troops at Manila and Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, in late September, and arrived Nagoya, Japan, 7 October. After unloading she sailed again for the United States arriving San Francisco via the Philippines 21 November. On this voyage she was a unit of "Magic-Carpet," participating in the gigantic task of bringing home veterans of the Pacific war. After a voyage to Pearl Harbor and return, the ship departed San Diego for the East Coast 14 January 1946, arrived 30 January at Norfolk and decommissioned 21 February. Hendry was placed in the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet on the James River, where she remains.

Hendry received two battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-119 Highlands

 

Highlands

A county in Florida.

(APA - 119: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Highlands (APA-119), a "Liberty ship" transport, was launched 8 July 1944 under Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. G. W. D. Dashiell; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 5 October 1944, Captain G. D. Lyon commanding.

The new transport conducted shakedown training out of San Pedro until 30 October. Following a rigorous period of drills, which would serve her well in the months to come, Highlands sailed to San Francisco to embark her troops, and got underway 23 November for Hawaii.

Arriving Pearl Harbor 29 November, the ship again turned to amphibious training, in preparation for the epochal Iwo Jima landings, one of the most important steps in the Navy's island campaign that drove relentlessly toward Japan. Highlands sailed with her task group 27 January 1945 via Eniwetok for Saipan, where she arrived 11 February. Five days later she sailed for Iwo Jima and commenced unloading on the beaches the morning of 19 February. For the next 6 days the transport unloaded troops and supplies during the day and retired under escort cover each night. Japanese air attacks were heavy during this period, claiming escort carrier Bismarck Sea in a kamikaze attack 21 February and damaging several other ships, including Saratoga. In addition to her regular duties, Highlands received over 150 survivors of Bismarck Sea 22 February, as well as casualties from the hard-pressed Marine units ashore.

Highlands departed Iwo Jima 25 February and after debarking casualties at Saipan proceeded to Espiritu Santo, arriving 15 March 1945. There she took on fresh troops for the next major assault of the Pacific War, the invasion of Okinawa, called by Winston Churchill "... among the most intense and famous of military history." Highlands did not take part in the initial landings, arriving in the Ryukyus 3 April. The transport remained at Kerama Retto until 11 April, when she took part in the early morning assault on Tsugen Jima, a small but key island controlling the approaches to the large bay on Okinawa's east side. As Marines gained control of the island, Highlands took casualties on board, and moved directly off Hagushi beaches 12 April to disembark reserve troops. During the 3 days that followed antiaircraft fire and smoke screens helped protect the transport from almost continuous air attack, and after completing her mission Highlands sailed for Saipan 16 April.

Arriving Saipan 20 April Highlands unloaded casualties and proceeded the next day to Ulithi. She departed 22 May for Guam and then Leyte, arriving in Leyte Gulf 31 May. The transport now busily prepared for the expected amphibious landings on the Japanese mainland, operations which were terminated by the surrender 15 August 1945. Highlands had been operating off Panay Island when the surrender came; she sailed 21 August to load occupation troops on Luzon. Highlands and other transports of her group entered Tokyo Bay the day of the formal ceremony, 2 September, and landed the 1st Cavalry Division on Japanese soil.

Highlands returned to the Philippine Islands and Okinawa for more occupation troops in September and after the clearing of mines from Japan's inland sea landed troops at Kure 6 October. The veteran ship sailed 11 October for Okinawa and San Diego carrying returnees, arriving in the United States 2 November. She made an additional voyage to Japanese ports 17 November-26 December, returning to San Francisco, and departed 11 January 1946 for the Panama Canal and Norfolk. Highlands arrived Hampton Roads 26 January, decommissioned 14 February and was placed in the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, where she remains.

Highlands received two battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-120 Hinsdale

 

 

Hinsdale

Named for Hinsdale County, Colorado.

(APA - 120: d. 6,873 light; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.7 k.; cpl. 509; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Hinsdale (APA-120), ex- MCV Hull-30, was launched by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., 22 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. M. E. Harper; and commissioned 15 October 1944, Comdr. Edward Flood Beyer, USNR, in command.

After shakedown in the San Diego-San Pedro area, the new attack transport sailed for the Pacific, reaching Pearl Harbor 12 December with 175 passengers. The war in the Pacific was steadily advancing across the ocean toward the Japanese home islands, and on 27 December 1944 Hinsdale embarked some 1,200 marines for the Iwo Jima invasion, a prelude to the invasion of Japan herself. Acting as flagship for Transport Division 44, she spent nearly a month of intensive practice-landings in preparation for the assault. Hinsdale sailed from Hawaii 27 January 1945, pausing at Saipan to join a huge transport flotilla, and arrived off Iwo Jima's rockbound heights at dawn on D-day, February 19.

Hinsdale's leatherneck passengers swarmed ashore with the first wave of the invasion forces, and she remained in the Iwo Jima area over a week embarking and disembarking troops and valuable cargo. Some of her most important work was as an auxiliary hospital ship, caring for the seriously wounded. Disembarking troops, offloading cargo, and tending the injured all took place under continuous mortar and artillery fire from well-entrenched Japanese shore batteries, but Hinsdale had only one close call. On the morning of 25 February, a projectile burst close aboard the transport, killing a Marine captain standing on deck and wounding several others. On 27 February, Hinsdale sailed from Iwo Jima, stopping at Saipan for fuel, and reached Guam 3 March to disembark 166 casualties.

The Pacific war neared its climax. Hinsdale had only a brief rest at Guam before returning to Saipan 9 March to embark troops for the upcoming invasion of Okinawa, the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war. With nearly 1,500 combat-bound marines and sailors on board, she again spent long hours in practice for the landings. On 27 March 1945 Hinsdale left Saipan to take her place in the Joint Expeditionary Force-1,213 ships loaded with over a half million troops, headed for Okinawa.

Sunday 1 April 1945, D-day for Okinawa, was very nearly Hinsdale's last day in the Pacific. As she steamed toward the transport area through the pre-dawn blackness, marines already on deck and ready to disembark, Hinsdale's lookouts spotted an enemy plane skimming low over the water. With only a few seconds warning, Hinsdale could not evade the kamikaze; at 0600 the suicide plane crashed into her port side just above the water line and ripped into the engine room. Three explosions rocked the troop-laden transport as the kamikaze's bombs exploded deep inside her and tore the engine room apart - only one member of the watch survived death by scalding steam from the exploding boilers.

Power failed immediately - lights and internal communication, so vital to damage control parties, were gone. Hinsdale came to a dead stop in the water, with three gaping holes in her port side. Marines on deck who had been ready to disembark were hastily shifted to the starboard rails to counteract a serious list to port. Below decks Hinsdale's crew were groping through the smoke-filled darkness to fight fires started by the kamikaze and to jury-rig patches. Fifteen men were dead, 40 missing or wounded. Despite the injury Hinsdale carried out her job to put the marines ashore.

Limited power was finally restored through an auxiliary diesel; the dangerous list to port of 13 degrees corrected; the ship taken in tow by ATR-80 at an agonizing 5 knots for Kerama Retto, some 20 miles away. Emergency repair work began immediately amidst continued kamikaze attacks; Hinsdale exacted some revenge by assisting in the kill of at least two of the suicide craft. Her cargo, mainly equipment and stores needed by the Marines was shifted to Pitt (APA-223), and then Hinsdale was pressed into service as a receiving ship for survivors of other kamikaze victims.

On 14 April she departed Kerama Rotta [sic; Retto], towed by Leo (AKA-6) [Vol. IV, errata: AKA-60] in a convoy of LSTs. Sailing slowly the convoy reached Ulithi 23 April; there Hinsdale, after a month of intensive work by repair ship Vulcan, was ready for sea, and on 20 May sailed for the States.

Hinsdale put into the Brooklyn Navy Yard 2 July 1945 for a complete overhaul. While she was there undergoing repairs, the Japanese surrendered, but Hinsdale was destined to make one last Pacific voyage. Departing 21 November, to participate in operation "Magic-Carpet," the return of Pacific veterans, she sailed via Pearl Harbor to Sasebo and Nagasaki, embarked over a thousand troops and reached San Francisco 24 January 1946. Thence she sailed to Norfolk Navy Yard arriving 20 February, was decommissioned 8 April 1946, returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal 12 April, and her name stricken from the Navy Register 1 May 1946. Hinsdale was subsequently placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and is berthed in the James River near Norfolk.

Hinsdale received two battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-121 Hocking

 

Hocking

A county in Ohio.

(APA-121: dp 6,873 light; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Hocking (APA-121) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, Calif., 6 August 1944; sponsored by Miss Frances Sims; acquired by the Navy on a loan-charter basis and commissioned 22 October 1944, Comdr. C. D. Shutz in command.

The new transport conducted shakedown and training exercises off California, departing for Pearl Harbor 4 December to join U.S. forces in the giant amphibious sweep across the Pacific. After her arrival at Pearl Harbor 10 December, Hocking embarked marines and took part in amphibious exercises and rehearsal preparatory to the Iwo Jima invasion, destined to be one of the most important and hard-fought of the war. She joined the vast armada of transports 27 January 1945 en route to Eniwetok and after a stopover at that island base arrived Iwo Jima 19 February. There Hocking debarked her troops and unloaded equipment in the early waves of the assault. She then anchored offshore, received casualties, and departed 27 February for Saipan, where she arrived 2 March.

With the Iwo Jima campaign underway, thoughts were turned to the next major objective, Okinawa. Hocking sailed to Espiritu Santo 15 March, embarked fresh amphibious assault forces, and sailed to Okinawa by way of Ulithi. The ship arrived off Okinawa during the difficult first weeks of the fighting, 9 April. She debarked her replacement troops and their cargo, and again received battle casualties for transportation out of the forward area. Hocking departed 14 April for Saipan and Ulithi, and arrived Marianas 7 May to load troops at Tinian. These were transported to Okinawa and landed 27 May, after which the transport again carried casualties from the battle-torn island. She arrived Pearl Harbor via Saipan and Eniwetok 26 June and sailed on to San Francisco, arriving 3 July.

With the war nearing its close, Hocking embarked replacement troops and sailed 20 July, stopping at Eniwetok and Ulithi before landing her troops at Okinawa 22 August. She then turned to duties connected with the occupation of former enemy territory, embarking troops at the Philippine base on Leyte 5 September and at Panay island 10 September. They were taken to Jinsen, Korea, and put ashore to aid in the peninsula occupation. Hocking sailed 25 September to Luzon, bringing troops to Jinsen, and made still another passage 18 October-3 November. She got underway from Jinsen 7 November, brought troops on board 2 days later at Shanghai, and sailed for the United States as a unit of operation "Magic-Carpet", bringing home thousands of American troops in the Pacific.

Hocking arrived San Pedro 5 December, and subsequently made another voyage to Guam and the Philippines bringing home veterans. Departing San Pedro 1 March 1946, she was designated for return to the Maritime Commission and sailed via the Canal Zone to Norfolk, where she decommissioned 10 May. Hocking joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet and is at present berthed in the James River, near Norfolk.

Hocking received two battle stars for World War II Service.

 

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA / LPA-173 Hyde

 

Hyde 

(APA-173: dp. 14,837 (tl.) 1. 436'6''; b. 62'0 ', dr. 24'0" (lim.), s. 17.7 k. (ti.); cpl. 532, trp. 1,562; a. 1 5", 10 40mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Hyde  (APA-173) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon, 30 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. James H. Bond; and commissioned 26 November 1944, Captain E.F. May commanding.

Following a brief shakedown cruise, Hyde  arrived Seattle 27 January 1945 to embark troops and cargo, after which she sailed for Pearl Harbor in convoy 1 February.

Carrying reinforcements for the Pacific campaign, then drawing to its climax, Hyde  stopped at Eniwetok before anchoring at Iwo Jima 13 March. The ship remained off that battle-scarred island only long enough to unload, then steamed to Guam 15 March, where she embarked over 400 marine casualties. Hyde  continued to Pearl Harbor, loaded more casualties 29 March, and arrived San Francisco 22 May 1945.

By June the Okinawa campaign, last step on the island road to Japan, was well underway, and Hyde  sailed 6 June with cargo and troops. After stopping at Ulithi she arrived Okinawa 24 July. There she discharged her passengers and cargo under constant threat of air attack, getting underway for Ulithi 6 August.

During this stay at the giant staging base, Hyde  received the news of the surrender of Japan. The transport immediately took up duties in connection with the occupation. She arrived Leyte 21 August, loaded troops, and disembarked them with the early occupation forces 8 September at Yokohama. Hyde  then took on board Allied prisoners of war for transportation to Guam, where she arrived 23 September.

Sailing to Tsingtao 11 October, the transport debarked marines for the occupation of China and to aid in the stabilization of that troubled country. She then steamed to Manila and thence to Haiphong, Indochina, arriving 2 November. At Haiphong, Hyde  embarked 200 Nationalist Chinese troops for further transfer to Chinwangtao, China, and unloaded them 12 November to aid in the occupation.

After a stop at Taku, the transport arrived Sasebo, Japan, 4 December 1945 to join in "Magic-Carpet", the vast operation designed to return veterans with the greatest possible speed. Hyde  sailed for California 7 December and arrived San Diego 22 December.

After a second voyage, to Pearl harbor and back, she sailed 16 February 1946 via Panama for Norfolk. She arrived there 13 March, decommissioned 14 May and returned to the Maritime Commission 2 days later. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and was berthed on the James River, near Norfolk, Va.

Hyde  received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA-174 Jerauld

 

 

Jerauld

A country [sic; county] in south-central South Dakota.

(APA - 174: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Jerauld (APA-174) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, Oreg., 3 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Gloria Dahlberg; acquired and commissioned at Astoria, Oreg., 28 November 1944, Comdr. R. E. Perry in command.

After undergoing shakedown off California, Jerauld sailed from Seattle 5 February 1945 carrying Army flyers and civilian workers to Pearl Harbor. She arrived 16 February and began 4 weeks of amphibious exercises in the Hawaiian Islands.

The new attack transport sailed from Pearl Harbor 15 March with marines destined for Okinawa. En route she touched at the great American bases at Eniwetok and Ulithi, arriving Okinawa 17 April. She remained off the bitterly-contested island for 5 days debarking a Marine antiaircraft battalion and undergoing frequent air attacks before sailing for Saipan 22 April.

Jerauld next steamed to Guadalcanal; and, after her arrival 10 May, she embarked troop units for redeployment to Guam and Saipan. The ship departed Saipan 23 June for her second voyage to Okinawa, this time with Army Engineers needed for the construction of all-important airfields on the island. She remained off Okinawa from 27 June until 6 July when she sailed with more than 250 battle casualties destined for hospitals on Saipan. Jerauld then proceeded to San Francisco, where she arrived 26 July.

The battle-tried transport remained in the United States until after Japan's surrender. Sailing 16 August for the Philippines, she arrived Manila 6 September and embarked occupation troops. After stopping at Lingayen Gulf for additional units she steamed to Wakayama 7 October to land occupation soldiers. The ship visited several Japanese ports in support of the operation and made another voyage to the Philippines for troops. She sailed from Nagoya 26 October, embarked returnees in the Philippines, and steamed by way of Pearl Harbor for San Diego.

Jerauld made one additional voyage to the Philippines as part of Operation "Magic-Carpet", bringing many combat troops back to the United States. She then sailed from San Francisco 20 February 1946 via the Canal Zone for Norfolk. Arriving 11 March, she decommissioned 6 May, was returned to the Maritime Commission, and was placed in the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River, where she remains.

Jerauld received one battle star for World War 11 service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)

 

APA-175 Karnes

 

 

Karnes

A county in Texas.

(APA-175; dp. 6,873; 1. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24', s. 17.7 k: cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 1 20mm.; cl. Haskell )

Karnes (APA-175) was launched 7 November 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., for the Maritime Commission; sponsored by Miss Nora Clancy acquired and commissioned by the Navy 3 December i944 Captain R. B. Miller in command.

After shakedown along the Calirornia coast Karnes arrived Pearl Harbor 13 February 1945 with passengers and cargo from the West Coast. Six days later she sailed in convoy to land troops at Saipan and other staging areas in the Pacific. At Saipan she embarked 406 Marines wounded in the Iwo Jima campaign and returned Pearl Harbor 17 March.

With the Okinawa invasion well underway, Karnes departed Pearl Harbor 7 April with troops and supplies to reinforce Americans fighting on that bitterly contested island. She arrived Okinawa 3 May and unloaded troops and equipment while under heavy kamikaze attack. She departed the battle zone 8 May with 866 survivors of ships damaged by kamikazes. Karnes discharged some survivors at Saipan and arrived San Francisco 27 May with the remaining group.

She returned to the embattled Pacific islands, arriving Manila 1 July with troop replacements and cargo. Following this mission, the transport returned Pearl Harbor 23 July to begin training for the anticipated invasion of the Japanese home islands and maneuvers.

Upon the cessation of hostilities 14 August Karnes began preparing for the occupation of Japan, arriving Sasebo 22 September. She was then assigned to "Magic-Carpet" duty returning men eligible for discharge, and arrived San Francisco 11 November with her first group of veterans. Karnes ended a second "Magic-Carpet" cruise 12 January 1946, returning American fighting men from China. On 13 February she departed San F'rancisco and arrived Norfolk 2 March where she decommissioned 11 April 1946. Karnes was returned to the WSA 24 April 1946. She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet and is berthed in James River, Va.

Karnes received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA-122 Kenton

 

Kenton

A county in Kentudy.

(APA-122: dp. 6,878; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 19 kts.; cpl. 586; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Kenton (APA-122) was launched 21 August 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Paul A. Everett; acquired by the Navy 31 October on a loan charter basis; and commissioned 1 November at San Pedro, Captain V. B. Tate in command.

Following shakedown along the California coast, Keaton departed Seattle 27 December carrying some 1,500 Army troops to Pearl Harbor, arriving 4 January 1945. After amphibious training maneuvers to prepare for operations in the western Pacific, she cleared Pearl Harbor 18 February with troops and equipment for the Philippines on board and arrived Leyte Gulf via Eniwetok and the Palaus 10 March.

After landing rehearsals, Kenton departed Leyte 27 March to participate in the Okinawa invasion. She reached Kerama Retto 1 April, unloaded Seabee construction equipment, and proceeded 8 April to Hagushi Beach, Okinawa, to discharge troops and cargo. During an air attack 6 April, Kenton's guns claimed two of the seven enemy planes that were shot down. She completed unloading 9 April, embarked 95 battle casualties, and sailed 10 April for Guam, arriving the 14th. She sailed 16 April on a cargo run to the Philippines, then proceeded to Ulithi, Western Carolines, 29 April to embark casualties for passage to the United States. Returning to Guam 24 May, she embarked additional casualties and proceeded the next day en route to San Francisco, where she arrived 12 June.

Keaton departed San Francisco 6 July with troop replacements for the Philippines. She reached Tacloban, Leyte, 29 July; cleared Leyte Gulf 1 August; and returned to Seattle 19 August. Embarking occupation troop for Japan she sailed 29 August, via the Philippines to Yokohama, arriving 24 September. As a unit of the "Magic-Carpet" Fleet, she took on board 1,527 homebound troops; departed 29 September; and arrived San Francisco 10 October.

After two additional "Magic-Carpet" cruises to the western Pacific between 28 October and 26 January 1946, Kenton departed Portland, Oreg., 28 January for the East Coast. Sailing via San Francisco and the Panama Canal, she arrived Newport News 16 February, decommissioned at Portsmouth, Va., 28 March and transferred to the Maritime Commission the next day. Her name was struck from the Navy List 12 April. Kenton was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and in 1967 was berthed in James River, Va.

Keaton received one battle star for World War II

Contributed by Ken Lasser

 

APA/LPA-176 Kershaw

 

A county in South Carolina

 

Haskell Class Attack Transport: Laid down under a Maritime Commission contract, (MC standard type VC2-S-AP5) at Oregon Shipbuilding Group, Portland Oreg; Launched c. November 1944; Aquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and Commissioned USS Kershaw (APA-176), c. December 1944; Decommissioned c. 1946 at Norfolk Va; Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Va; Struck from the Naval Register 1 October 1958; Redesignated as an Amphibious Transport (LPA-176), 1 January 1969; Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD "exchange" 8 June 1982, fate unknown.

 

 

APA/LPA-177 Kingsbury

 

USS Kingsbury (APA-177)

A county in east-central South Dakota.

(APA-177: dp. 6,873; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; cpl. 536; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm.; cl. Haskell; T. VC2-S-AP5)

Kingsbury (APA-177) was launched 16 November 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Leonard Euckler; and commissioned 6 December 1944, Comdr., J.H. Hughes in command.

After shakedown along the California coast, Kingsbury departed San Pedro 9 February 1945. Steaming via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, she arrived Iwo Jima 14 March, embarked battle-weary Marines, and returned to Pearl Harbor 5 April via Guam and Eniwetok. Sailing for Seattle 22 May, she arrived 29 May and embarked 1,507 soldiers before departing 15 June for Iwo Jima. Arriving 7 July, she debarked her passengers and then departed 10 July with 262 military passengers for Pearl Harbor where she arrived the 21st.

Supporting U.S. occupation operations in Japan, Kingsbury cleared Pearl Harbor 1 September and steamed via Saipan for Sasebo, Japan, where she arrived 22 September to debark occupation troops of the 5th Marine Division. From 25 September to 14 October she made a circular run between Japan and the Philippines to transport additional occupation troops; then she returned to the Philippines 26 October for "Magic-Carpet" duty. With 2,077 homebound troops embarked, she departed Tacloban, Leyte, 30 October and reached San Francisco 17 November. Between 2 December and 9 January 1946 Kingsbury made another trip to and from the Far East, carrying 935 replacement troops to Manila and returned 2,058 veterans to the West Coast.

Kingsbury sailed 11 February for the East Coast, arriving Norfolk 3 March. She decommissioned at Portsmouth, Va., 19 April. Turned over to custody of the Maritime Commission 23 April, her name was struck from the Naval Register 1 May. At present she is in the Maritime Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Va.

Kingsbury received one battle star for World War II service.

 

APA-123 Kittson

 

Kittson

A county in Minnesota

 

Haskell Class Attack Transport: Laid down under a Maritime Commission contract, (MC standard type VC2-S-AP5) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington CA; Launched (date unknown); Aquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and Commissioned USS Kittson (APA-123), (date unknown); Decommissioned (date and place unknown); Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown); Final Disposition, unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 6,873 t. (lt) 14,837 t (fl); Length 455'; Beam 62'; Speed 19kts; Complement 56 Officers 480 Enlisted; Troop Capacity 86 Officers 1,475 Enlisted; Cargo Capacity 150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons; Boats; 2 LCM, 12 LCVP, 3 LCPU; Armament 1 5"/38 dual-purpose gun mount, 4 twin 40mm gun mounts, 10 single 20mm gun mounts; Propulsion 1 Joshua Hendy geared turbine, 2 Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 1 propeller, Design shaft horsepower 8,500.

 

APA-124 LaGrange

 

 

Lagrange

A county in Indiana

LAGRANGE (APA-124) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 26 June 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; launched 1 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Albert Krutcher; acquired by the Navy 10 November 1944; and commissioned 11 November 1944, Capt. Frank R. Walker in command.

After shakedown and amphibious training operations, LAGRANGE departed San Diego 1 January 1945 for the western Pacific.  Arriving Manus 18 January, the attack transport carried cargo and passengers to Hollandia and the Philippines before joining Transport Squadron 17.  Following 

a month of intensive preparations, LAGRANGE departed Dulag Harbor, Philippine Islands, as part of the western islands attack group in the greatest amphibious assault of the Pacific war, the invasion of Okinawa.  Arriving in the transport area off Kerama Retto, 26 March, LAGRANGE successfully landed advance forces who took that small cluster of islands which served as an advance naval base for fueling, repairs, and replenishment during the conquest of Okinawa itself.  She remained off Okinawa for the next 30 days supporting operations on shore.

Returning to Saipan 5 May, LAGRANGE sailed 2 weeks later with Navy passengers bound for San Francisco.  She resumed war operations upon her arrival Eniwetok 11 July, and sailed for Okinawa 29 July.  Arriving Buckner Bay 1 week later, LAGRANGE unloaded cargo needed for the final days of the war.  While anchored in Buckner Bay 13 August, she came under enemy air attack; despite accurate antiaircraft fire, a kamikaze carrying a 500-pound bomb crashed into LAGRANGE's superstructure.  A second suicide plane struck the top of a kingpost and splashed 20 yards from the ship.  Considerable damage to the transport resulted, and 21 men were killed and 89 wounded.

After hostilities stopped 15 August, LAGRANGE repaired the damage and prepared for the homeward cruise.  Departing Guam 6 September with victorious veterans, she arrived San Francisco 21 September.  LAGRANGE decommissioned there 27 October 1945 and was returned to the War Shipping Administration.

LAGRANGE received one battle star for World War II service.

Transcribed by Michael Hansen

 

APA/LPA-178 Lander

 

Lander

A county in north central Nevada

LANDER (APA-178)was laid down 9 October 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 19 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. H. C. McVean, Jr.; acquired by the Navy 8 December 1944; and commissioned 9 December 1944 at Astoria, Oreg., Capt. John D. Sweeney in command.

After shakedown, LANDER operated off the California coast until she departed San Pedro, Calif., 9 February 1945 for the western Pacific.  Steaming via Pearl Harbor, the attack transport reached Eniwetok 28 February, joined units of TF 51, and sailed 2 March for Iwo Jima.  She sighted the embattled island 6 March and cruised in a holding area before dropping anchor 14 March.  She embarked marine casualties and loaded cargo, then sailed for Guam 20 March.  Arriving the 22d, she embarked additional marines and departed the next day for Pearl Harbor where she arrived 4 April.

Carrying troops and cargo, the attack transport departed 20 May for the Ryukyus.  Steaming via the Marshalls and Ulithi, she arrived Okinawa 7 June and landed her troops as reinforcements.  After embarking 220 military passengers and 560 enemy prisoners, she sailed 11 June and transferred troops and POW's at Ulithi 17 June.  Departing the 18th, LANDER embarked additional passengers at Manus, Admiralties; Eniwetok, Roi-Namur, and Kwajalein, Marshalls; and Pearl Harbor 
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APA-125 Lanier

 

A county in southern Georgia

 

        LANIER (APA-125) was laid down 25 June 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 29 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Earl English; acquired by the Navy 22 December 1944; and commissioned the same day at Oakland, Calif., Comdr. Walter W. Rockey in command.

After shakedown, LANIER departed San Francisco 23 February 1945 and arrived Pearl Harbor 2 March to practice landing operations.  Loaded with 1,485 soldiers, she got underway 28 March and steamed in convoy with 11 other transports and five merchantmen for the Volcano Islands.  Touching Eniwetok and Saipan, she reached Iwo Jima 20 April and discharged men and cargo.  She returned to Saipan 22 to 24 April, took on board equipment and 1,442 troops, then sailed to Okinawa 2 to 6 May.  There she landed reinforcements and embarked 66 battle casualties before returning to Saipan 8 to 13 May.  On the next day, she embarked 254 survivors from destroyer LITTLE (DD-803), sunk by enemy air attack while on radar picket duty west of Okinawa 3 May.

Steaming to San Francisco 14 to 30 May, LANIER proceeded to Seattle 31 May to 2 June, embarked 1,442 troops, and departed 12 June for the Far East.  She sailed via Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi and reached Okinawa 24 July.  She operated off Okinawa until 6 August, then carried 798 passengers via Ulithi to Guam, where she arrived the 14th.  She embarked over 1,300 occupation troops the following day and sailed as part of TF 31 for occupation landings on Japan. 










 

APA-151 La Porte

 

A county in northwestern Indiana

 

LA PORTE (APA-151) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 15 May 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Group, Portland, Oreg.; launched 30 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Charles N. Niles; and commissioned 14 August 1944, Comdr. Marion C. Thompson in command.
 
After shakedown, LA PORTE departed San Francisco 22 October 1944 to join the Pacific amphibious forces.  Arriving Milne Bay 8 November for training operations, the attack transport sailed from Manus 2 January 1945 for Luzon.  LA PORTE steamed into Lingayen Gulf 9 days later and debarked troops and equipment despite attacks of enemy aircraft.  Her mission completed, she returned Leyte 16 January to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa.
 
Loaded with 1,500 troops, LA PORTE departed San Pedro Bay 27 March as part of the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war.  Troops hit the beach 1 April to begin the invasion which placed an Allied garrison next door to Japan.  Two days later, a kamikaze dived at the sitting transport, but accurate fleet antiaircraft fire splashed the raider before he reached his mark.  Departing Okinawa 5 April, LA PORTE arrived San Francisco 3 weeks later for a brief replenishment period.
 
Returning to Ie Shima 14 July, the transport unloaded 1,300 Army Engineer replacements before she once again sailed for the United States.  She arrived San Francisco 10 August, and, after hostilities with Japan ended, LA PORTE prepared for occupation duty in the Far East.  With 1,146 replacements on board, the transport de








 

APA-152 Latimer

 



 

A county in eastern Oklahoma

 

LATIMER (APA-152) was launched under Maritime Commission contract 4 July 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Mrs. Melvin H. McCoy; acquired by the Navy 28 August 1944; and commissioned the same day at Astoria, Oreg., Capt. John P. Dix in command.
 
Departing Seattle 11 September 1944, LATIMER steamed via San Francisco to San Pedro, where she arrived 16 September.  After shakedown off southern California, she embarked 1,301 troops at San Francisco and departed 26 October for the western Pacific.  She sailed via Hollandia, New Guinea, and Noumea, New Caledonia, to the Solomons; arrived Guadalcanal 21 December for amphibious assault exercises; then steamed to Manus, Admiralties, 25 to 31 December to prepare for the invasion of Luzon.
 
Assigned to TG 77.9 as a reinforcement transport, LATIMER cleared Seeadler Harbor 2 January 1945, bound for Lingayen Gulf.  She arrived off San Fabian, Luzon, 11 January; discharged troops and support equipment; then steamed 13 to 27 January via Leyte Gulf and Manus to Wakde, New Guinea, where she embarked additional troops for passage to Luzon.  After steaming to Lingayen Gulf 2 to 10 February, she sailed the 10th for Leyte Gulf and arrived 14 February to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa.
 
During most of March, LATIMER rehearsed assault landings off Samar before departing San Pedro Bay in convoy 27 March.  Assigned to TG 53.3, she carried troops of the 96th Infantry Division and arrived off Hagushi, Okinawa, at dawn 1 April.  She debarked troops at 0730 for the first wave against beaches Brown 1 and 2, t
th.
 
Steaming via Guam and Pearl Harbor, she arrived San Francisco Bay 29 April; proceeded to Seattle 20 to 22 May; embarked 1,422 troops; and departed 28 May for the Far East.  After touching at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi, she arrived Hagushi 14 July and discharged troops and military cargo.  With 350 veterans embarked she sailed 22 July for the United States via Ulithi and arrived San Francisco 10 August.
 
Between 7 and 27 September, LATIMER transported 1,164 occupation troops from Pearl Harbor via Saipan to Honshu, Japan.  She returned to Saipan 1 to 6 October; embarked 1,523 passengers, and departed 8 October on "Magic Carpet" passage to the west coast, arriving Seattle 19 October.  During the next 4 months she made two more "Magic Carpet" voyages to the western Pacific from Seattle and San Francisco, carrying military passengers from Saipan and the Philippines to the west coast.
 
Arriving San Francisco 19 February 1946 after a voyage from Subic Bay, Luzon, LATIMER departed 11 March for the east coast.  Steaming via the Panama Canal, she arrived Norfolk 26 March and for the next 3 months operated at Norfolk and Yorktown, Va.  LATIMER entered Norfolk Navy Yard 27 August, decommissioned there 26 February 1947, and entered the Atlantic Reserve fleet.
 
LATIMER recommissioned 23 September 1950 at Portsmouth, Va., Capt. M. L. Catterton in command.  Assigned to Transport Squadron 2, she operated out of Norfolk from the Virginia and N








 

APA/LPA-179 Lauderdale

 

A counties in Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee

 

LAUDERDALE (APA-179) was launched under Maritime Commission contract 23 November 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Mrs. J. H. Blockey; and commissioned 12 December 1944 at Astoria, Oreg., Comdr. W. F. Ramsey in command.
 
Departing Seattle, Wash., 28 December 1944, LAUDERDALE steamed via San Francisco to San Pedro where she arrived 2 January 1945.  After shakedown off the California coast, she sailed from Los Angeles to Pearl Harbor 13 to 19 February for amphibious landing exercises.  She then embarked soldiers of the 10th Army and departed Honolulu 17 March for the western Pacific.  Steaming via Eniwetok, she reached Ulithi 31 March.
 
On 7 April, LAUDERDALE sailed in convoy for the Ryukyus.  She arrived off Hagushi, Okinawa, 11 April; despite frequent air alerts, she debarked all troops and unloaded cargo by 17 April.  Between 18 April and 14 July, she remained at Hagushi, where she served as receiving ship for uninjured survivors of ships that were damaged or sunk during the protracted, but successful, struggle for American control of the Ryuksus.  She embarked survivors from more than 30 ships and landing craft.  In addition, she served as a detention ship for captured Japanese prisoners of war.
 
Relieved 14 July by attack transport CRESCENT CITY (APA-21), LAUDERDALE departed Hagushi the next day with 1,132 military passengers embarked for transportation to the United States.  Steaming via Ulithi and Eniwetok, she reached San Diego 6 August, discharged h

 









 

APA-153 Laurens

 



 

Counties in Georgia and South
Carolina

 

LAURENS, an attack transport, was launched by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. James C. Black; acquired by the Navy 7 September 1944; and commissioned the same day, Capt. A. R. Ponto in command.
 
After shakedown along the California coast, LAURENS departed Oakland 26 October 1944, arriving Lae, New Guinea, 12 November.  For the next month she operated out of New Guinea and New Caledonia, training in preparation for the Lingayen Gulf landings.  Forwarded to Guadalcanal in mid-December, LAURENS loaded over 1,400 troops and proceeded to Manus, Admiralty Islands.
 
LAURENS departed Manus 2 January 1945 and arrived in Lingayen Gulf to land troops off San Fabian, Philippine Islands, 9 days later.  She stood out of Lingayen Gulf on the 12th, returning to New Guinea 27 January.  During February she made another cruise to the Philippines transporting forces to Leyte and remained there in preparation for the Okinawa campaign.
 
On 27 March 1945, LAURENS steamed out of Leyte Gulf for Okinawa, doorstep to Japan.  The first wave of troops hit the beach 1 April 1945, while LAURENS arrived in the transport area 9 miles offshore.  The continued landing troops and cargo until she sailed for Saipan, 6 April arriving there 4 days later.
 
During May, LAURENS was under repair at Pearl Harbor and San Diego before returning Eniwetok 15 June 1945.  For the next 6 weeks the transport operated among the islands, tran

 









 

APA-180 Lavaca

 

A county in southwest Texas

 

LAVACA was launched 27 November 1944 by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Charles Harper Jr.; acquired by the Navy 17 December 1944 and commissioned the same day, Capt. Walter S. Gabel, USNR, in command.
 
After shakedown off California, LAVACA arrived San Diego 30 December and on 29 January 1945 became the flagship for Commander, Transport Division 65.
 
LAVACA arrived Pearl Harbor 25 February.  Leaving 8 March, she transported Seabees to the Philippines, arriving Samar 27 March.  From 27 March to 2 August, LAVACA shuttled troops and equipment between the Admiralty and Philippine Islands.
 
On 2 August, she arrived Markham Bay, New Guinea.  That night an Australian plane crashed into Huon Gulf.  LAVACA's salvage crew rescued five men and towed the plane to shore.
 
On 27 August, following Japan's capitulation, LAVACA joined TF 33.1 at Luzon, prepared for the occupation of Japan, and arrived Yokohama 2 September.  The attack transport shuttled passengers from Pearl Harbor and San Francisco to Sasebo, Japan, 7 September 1945 to 6 July 1946.
 
She departed Sasebo for the east coast via Colon, Panama, and arrived Norfolk, Va., 12 July.  LAVACA decommissioned 31 January 1947 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk.  She was struck from the Navy list 1 October 1958 following transfer to the Maritime Administratio

 









 

APA / LPA-154 Lowndes

 



 

Counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, named for the
South Carolina statesman William Lowndes.

 

LOWNDES (APA-154) was launched under a Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, Oregon, 18 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Fred J. Lundberg; acquired by the Navy 14 September 1944; and commissioned the same day, Comdr. Charles H. Perdue in command.
 
After shakedown, LOWNDES departed San Pedro 23 October for amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands.  She continued landing rehearsals for the rest of the year in preparation for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations.
 
Departing Pearl Harbor 27 January 1945, LOWNDES carried troops and equipment to staging areas in Saipan before continuing toward Iwo Jima.  She arrived off the southeast coast of the volcanic island 19 February and lowered her boats for the massive amphibious assault.  For the next eight days, LOWNDES stood by as her beach party went ashore to attend and evacuate casualties, to salvage boats, and to clear the beaches for landing craft.  The transport returned to Saipan 3 March to prepare for the final leg on the island hopping campaign which was pushing Japan back to her home islands.
 
LOWNDES sailed 27 March for the 1 April invasion of Okinawa arriving there in the morning hours of D-Day.  The transport waited in the retirement area until 12 April when, under constant enemy air raids, she debarked troops and unloaded cargo for the vigorous campaign ashore.  Returning Saipan 18 April, LOWNDES performed training exercises there and in the Southwest Pacific until she departed Guam 11 July for San Francisco.
 
T

 









 

APA-155 Lycoming

 



 

Lycoming:  A county in northern Pennsylvania.

 

LYCOMING (APA-155) was laid down 30 May 1944 by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 25 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Schuyler N. Pyne, wife of Captain (later Rear Admiral) Pyne; acquired by the Navy and commissioned at Astoria, Oreg., 20 September 1944, Comdr. D. B. Coleman in command.
 
After shakedown off the west coast, LYCOMING sailed into Seattle 1 November 1944 to serve as a training ship for new attack transport crews.  Testing her own training, she departed the west coast with 1,441 troops embarked, for Pearl Harbor and the western Pacific.  Arriving Leyte, Philippine Islands, 24 February, she was assigned to Transport Squadron 13 which was already rehearsing for the Okinawa invasion.  Despite enemy kamikaze attacks, she debarked 1,294 officers and men of the Army's 7th Division Artillery with their ordnance and supplies on this enemy bastion between 1 and 5 April.  Her mission accomplished, she returned to the United States 11 May for additional troops.
 
Within a week, 1,200 additional men were on their way to Manila.  After her arrival 12 June, LYCOMING was temporarily transferred to the 7th Fleet to relocate troops from New Guinea to the Philippines.  Released after one voyage, she sailed back to San Francisco, arriving 3 August.
 
LYCOMING was at sea headed for the Marianas with Army troops when Japan surrendered 2 September.  Reaching Saipan 9 September, she was assigned to TF 54 transporting occupation troops to Japan.   










 

APA-129 Marvin H McIntyre

 

MARVIN H. McINTYRE
 
Marvin Hunter McIntyre was born in LaGrange, Ky., 27 November 1878.  Beginning his career in 1905 in journalism, he rose to city editor of The Washington Post.  He left this post to become Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and to serve as a member of the committee of public information and as publicity director, U.S. Navy, 1917-21.  He served as publicity representative and business manager for several of Franklin D. Roosevelt's campaigns and was appointed to the Presidential Secretariat in 1933.  On 1 July 1937, he was appointed Secretary to the President  and remained in that position until his death 13 December 1943, in Washington, D.C.
 
 
APA-129
 
MARVIN H. McINTYRE (APA-129), built under Maritime Commission contract (M.C.V. hull No. 45), was launched by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., 21 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. F. H. Warren, daughter of Marvin H. McIntyre; acquired by the Navy on loan charter 27 November 1944; and commissioned 28 November 1944, Capt. John J. Hourihan in command.
 
After shakedown, MARVIN H. McINTYRE stood out of Los Angeles Harbor, 18 January 1945, on her first war mission.  She arrived at her destination, Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, 4 February and commenced intensive amphibious training operations in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa.  Departing the Solomons 15 March, McINTYRE steamed in convoy for the

 









 

APA-156 Mellette

 



 
 
Mellette:  A county in southern South Dakota named for Arthur C. Mellette, the first Governor of the State.
 
MELLETTE (APA-156) was launched by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., 4 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Clarissa Bickford; acquired from the Maritime Commission on a loan-charter basis; and commissioned 27 September 1944, Comdr. F. H. Spring, USNR, in command.
 
In November 1944, MELLETTE followed a San Pedro shakedown cruise with a voyage to the Hawaiian Islands for training operations.  She conducted amphibious, troop, gunnery, and tactical exercises off Maui into January 1945.  On 27 January, she joined TG 51.1 and got underway for Iwo Jima.  With units of the 4th Marine Division embarked, she steamed west, via Eniwetok and Saipan, arriving off the Volcano Islands to participate in the initial assault 19 February.  She remained off the eastern beaches of Iwo Jima for the next 6 days, unloading supplies and taking on casualties.  On the 25th, she sailed for Saipan where she disembarked her wounded passengers and began preparations for the upcoming Okinawa campaign.
 
Through the next month, MELLETTE trained off Tinians' western beaches with TG 51.2 and on 27 March weighed anchor and headed for the Ryukyus.  On 1 April, she was off Okinawa and at 0631 commenced disembarking units of the 2d Marine Division in diversionary landings along the island's southeastern coast.

APA-158 NEWBERRY

Newberry:  A county in South Carolina.

NEWBERRY (APA-158) was laid down under Maritime Commission contract 10 June 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Ore.; launched 24 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph M. McDonald; acquired by the Navy on a loan-charter basis 6 October 1944; and commissioned the next day, Comdr. David R. Phoebus in command.

NEWBERRY conducted shakedown off the west coast, then departed San Francisco for Hawaii, where she conducted final training in amphibious operations.  On 31 December 1944, she embarked units of the 4th Marine Division, and the following month left Pearl Harbor for the invasion of Iwo Jima.  For 10 days following D-day, 17 February 1945, the attack transport landed her Marines and took on a total of 439 wounded.  Speedy medical attention doubtless saved many from certain death.  NEWBERRY departed Iwo for Guam on the 27th.

Sailing via Saipan, she embarked part of the 2d Marine Division at Guam on 8 March, and on the 27th, got underway for the Okinawa operation.  Standing in reserve, her troops were not needed; and she returned them to Saipan in April.  NEWBERRY remained there until early in June, then sailed to Espiritu Santo for supplies.  She returned to Guam 2 July and sailed for San Francisco less than two weeks later, arriving on the 27th.

  










 

St. Mary’s APA-126

A county in Maryland.



(APA-126: dp. 14,833, 1. 465'3", b. 61'1"; dr. 28'1"; s. 17 k.;
cpl. 536; trp. 1,562; a. 1 5", 12 40mm., 10 20mm; cl. Haskell; T.
VC2-S-AP5)



The fourth St. Mary's (APA-126) was laid down under Maritime Commission
contract (MCV hull 40) on 29 June 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corp.,
Wilmington, Calif.; launched on 4 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Arthur S.
Tode, acquired by the Navy on loan charter and delivered on 14 November 1944;
and commissioned on 15 November 1944, Capt. Edward R. Glosten, USNR, in
command.



Assigned to Transport Squadron 17 (TransRon 17) following shakedown, St. Mary's
departed Los Angeles on 1 January 1945; loaded bulldozers, airplane engines,
bomb service trucks and other equipment at San Diego, and, on the 4th, sailed
for Manus, Admiralty Islands. Arriving in Seeadler Harbor on the 21st, she offloaded
her cargo and steamed to Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, whence she carried troops to
Leyte, 31 January to 6 February.



During the remainder of February and most of March, she trained with units of
the 77th Division for Operation "Iceberg," the assault on Okinawa. On
21 March, she cleared Leyte Gulf with TG 51.1 and headed north. Five days
later, she landed some of her troops on Kerama Retto, then stood by to take on
casualties. On 13 April, she shifted to the Hagushi anchorage area, and on the
16th, sent troops ashore on Ie Shima. On the 19th, she moved around to
Okinawa's southern coast for a diversionary landing; then returned to Hagushi
to discharge the remainder of her cargo and troops.



On 26 April, St. Mary's departed the kamikaze target area. Three weeks
at Ulithi followed. On 24 May, she steamed for Guam; exchanged landing boats;
and got underway to return to the Philippines. From 31 May to 26 June, she
remained in the Subic Bay-Manila

Bay areas. In July, she trained with units of the 81st Division at Leyte; and,
in early August, trained with other troops off Iloilo.



In mid-August, hostilities ended. St. Mary's embarked occupation troops
and sailed for Japan, arriving in Tokyo Bay on 2 September, just prior to the
signing of the official surrender documents. Two days later, she disembarked
troops of the 1st Cavalry Division at Yokohama, then returned to the
Philippines. From Mindanao, she lifted troops to Kure, then steamed to Okinawa;
whence, as a unit of the "Magic Carpet" fleet, she carried veterans
back to the United States.



In December, the APA returned to Okinawa for a second group of returning
servicemen. Departing Buckner Bay on the 19th, she developed engine trouble on
3 January 1946, 450 miles from her destination. Nashville, however, took
her in tow, and she reached San Francisco on 6 January 1946.



Six days later, St. Mary's reported for inactivation. On 15 February,
she was decommissioned and returned to the Maritime Commission. Her name was
struck from the Navy list on the 21st.



St Mary's earned one battle star for World War II service.











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