USS Stokes (AKA-68)

USS "Stokes" (AKA-68) was a sclass|Tolland|attack cargo ship named after Stokes County, North Carolina. "Stokes" was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 20 months.

"Stokes ", ex-MC hull 1394, was laid down on 26 June 1944 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina; launched on 31 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. W. D. Woodall; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on a loan-charter basis; and commissioned on 12 October 1944, Lt. Comdr. G. W. Graber in command. After a brief shakedown and yard availability period, "Stokes " loaded general cargo at Norfolk and sailed for the Pacific on 11 December. She transited the Panama Canal on 21 December 1944 and arrived at Pearl Harbor early in January 1945. The attack cargo ship was then assigned to Transport Division 48 which was preparing to participate in the assault against Iwo Jima. She moved to Hilo, Hawaii; loaded troops and equipment; and sailed with the division to the staging area in the Marianas. The ships stood out of Saipan on 16 February for Iwo Jima. "Stokes " arrived off Iwo Jima on 19 February as the assault waves of marines landed on the beaches and, for the next two weeks, supplied them with rockets, ammunition, and gasoline. She then loaded combat casualties for evacuation to the base hospital at Saipan. After disembarking the wounded there, the ship moved to Guam to replace many of her small boats that had been lost or disabled at Iwo Jima. "Stokes " then sailed to Espiritu Santo and loaded troops and equipment for the upcoming assault on the Ryūkyūs. Since her passengers were part of the floating reserve, the ship did not arrive at Okinawa until 10 April. On the 19th "Stokes" proceeded, via Ulithi, Guam, and Pearl Harbor, to the West Coast of the United States. She called at San Francisco before moving up the coast to Seattle for loading. "Stokes" sailed for Iwo Jima and on to Okinawa. After the war ended, the ship then operated between the Philippine Islands, Guam, and Japan until routed back to the West Coast. She returned to Seattle in January 1946 and was routed to the East Coast for inactivation and disposal. She arrived at Norfolk on 29 May and was decommissioned on 9 July. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 19 July 1946 and she was returned to the War Shipping Administration. "Stokes " received two battle stars for her service in World War II.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s19/stokes.htm Naval Historical Center: USS "Stokes"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02068.htm NavSource Online: AKA-68 "Stokes"]
* [http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs]