USS Berrien (APA-62)

USS "Berrien" (APA-62) was a "Gilliam"-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

"Berrien" was named after counties in Georgia and Michigan. She was launched 20 March 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Wilmington, California; acquired by the Navy on 7 October 1944; and commissioned on 8 October 1944, with Lieutenant Commander John Murray Gallagher USNR in command. The ship was nicknamed the "Mighty B" and the "Blue Bitch".

Operational history

World War II

Invasion of Iwo Jima

She departed Pearl Harbor for operations in the Pacific on 27 January 1945. "Berrien" arrived in time to participate in the invasion of Iwo Jima. It was during this campaign, on the night of 21 February 1945, that the ship was hit with a shell on her after deckhouse. Seventeen of the crew were wounded and all received the Purple Heart.Fact|date=September 2007

Invasion of Okinawa

Approximately one month later, the ship was again on her way into enemy territory with Transport Squadron 15 as part of the invasion of Okinawa. On Easter Sunday morning, the "Berrien" and other ships of the task force appeared off the southwest shores of Okinawa as part of a feint to throw enemy forces off balance and help pave the way for the main landings on the western beaches of Hagushi. On that morning, 2 ships were hit with kamikaze planes. The feint succeeded and was used again the next day. This worked well and losses were minimal.

The ship cruised offshore for about a week, awaiting orders to proceed to Hagushi to unload her cargo. She was sent into enemy waters instead, accompanied by a destroyer escort and the destroyers USS "Ammen" and USS "Brown". While en route, "Berrien" encountered a mine and had a near miss with 4 torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. She arrived at Okinawa and stayed there for 10 days. While there, she was under constant attack from shore batteries and kamikazes. She received a hit near her stacks which wounded a radioman, making him the 18th man of the "Berrien" to receive the Purple Heart. Fact|date=September 2007

Air/sea rescue

From Okinawa, she sailed back to Saipan, and then received orders to head to the South Pacific. The ship had her crew initiated from 'pollywogs' into respectable 'shellbacks' at the Equator. From Tulagi she steamed to Noumea, New Caledonia, then back to the Mariana Islands. On the morning of July 3, on the way into Guam, she participated in the air/sea rescue of 10 Army fliers. From Guam she returned to the US. While in San Francisco, the cease fire order was given on the Pacific front.

After hostilities

"Berrien" returned to the Pacific and headed to Manila, then to Aomori, Japan as part of the initial allied landings in northern Honshū. From there, she steamed north to Otaru, in Hokkaidō, northernmost of the main Japanese home islands, for another initial landing on Nippon soil. At this point, the crew was asked if they wished to take part in the Bikini Atoll tests. There were not enough volunteers to man the ship, so she received orders to sail from Otaru into Tokyo Bay to load up with Marines and sailors returning to their homes in the states. She docked in Seattle, Wa. where she received many new crew members to replace ones going home, and a new captain. She returned to the Orient and was in Shanghai, China on the Huangpu River in February, 1946. She returned to the States shortly after. She had 166 plank owners, and of 321 enlisted, 173 were with her from commissioning, and 20 of the 31 officers.

Decommission

She was decommissioned in May 1946, returned to the Maritime Commission on 12 August 1947, and placed in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet. She participated in the Fleet Repair Program from July 11 1955 to October 28 1955 until returned to Suisun Bay. She was sold as scrap to Zidell Explorations, Inc. on May 17 1966 and delivered 16 August 1966.

Decorations

"Berrien" received two battle stars for World War II service in the Pacific Theatre.

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/amphib/apa62.htm "Berrien" (APA-62)] , DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03062.htm APA-62 "Berrien"] , Navsource Online.

USS Berrien 'News Of The Day' paper. Dec. 15, 1945

USS Berrien Navy Day paper, Oct. 27, 1945

Personal diary of S1c William Laughlin May 24,44 - June 4, 46