USS Elizabeth C. Stanton (AP-69)

USS|Elizabeth C. Stanton|AP-69 was the lead ship of her class of Second World War United States Navy transport ships, named for the suffragist and abolitionist Elizabeth C. Stanton.

"Elizabeth C. Stanton" was launched 22 December 1939 as "Sea Star" by Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Richard J. Welch; transferred to the Navy 13 September 1942; and commissioned 17 September 1942, Commander D. A. Frost, USN (Ret), in command.

Sailing from Norfolk 24 October 1942, "Elizabeth C. Stanton" quickly landed her troops and equipment for the assault on North Africa 8 November and got underway for the States within the week. After another rapid voyage to North Africa to support the troops fighting ashore, she returned to Norfolk 24 April 1943 and the following day became flagship for amphibious exercises in Chesapeake Bay.

On 10 May 1943 "Elizabeth C. Stanton" sailed again for the Mediterranean, where she saw action during the invasion of Sicily 8 July. She remained off the island discharging troops and combat cargo, and fighting off enemy aircraft for 6 days. She returned to Algeria to prepare for the next operation, and on 9 September landed her troops at Salerno in the initial assault. Until the end of October, she carried reinforcement troops from Bizerte and Oran to Naples for the capture and occupation of Italy, then sailed for New York and overhaul.

When "Elizabeth C. Stanton" returned to transport duty in January 1944, preparations were underway for the June invasion of Normandy; she made two voyages to carry troops and cargo for the huge buildup in the British Isles. On 14 March 1944 she departed Belfast for Algeria, and subsequently carried troops to Naples, taking part in amphibious exercises and antisubmarine patrols until August. Then she saw action in the initial landings on the coast of southern France. She continued to support this operation by transporting troops and cargo throughout the Mediterranean until returning to the United States on 8 November.

After overhaul at New York, "Elizabeth C. Stanton" sailed for the Pacific on 4 January 1945, and arrived at Espiritu Santo on 23 February. Assigned to redeploy troops in the central and southern Pacific, she sailed from Pearl Harbor to the New Hebrides, Marianas, Marshalls, Solomons, Carolines and Okinawa Gunto. Arriving at San Francisco on 11 July for repairs, she sailed again in August to transport troops for the occupation of Japan. She returned to the West Coast late in 1945. On 20 January 1946 she carried 1,800 German prisoners of war with their US Army guards from Long Beach to Liverpool and Le Havre. She returned to New York on 5 March and was decommissioned on 3 April 1946, ownership reverting to the Maritime Commission on the same day.

"Elizabeth C. Stanton" received five battle stars for World War II service.

See also

She is one of a list of U.S. military vessels named after women.