USS Habersham (AK-186)

USS "Habersham" (AK-186) was an sclass|Alamosa|cargo ship. She was named for Habersham County, Georgia.

"Habersham" was launched 7 June 1944 by the Walter Butler Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin, under a Maritime Commission contract. She was sponsored by Mrs. Carl Gray, Jr. and acquired by the US Navy on 26 April 1945 and commissioned 12 May 1945 with Commander M.A. MacPhee in command.

Following shakedown training off Galveston, Texas the ship sailed 2 June 1945 for Gulfport, Mississippi, to take on cargo and departed four days later to join the Pacific Fleet. "Habersham" arrived at Pearl Harbor via the Canal Zone 30 June, unloaded her cargo, and returned to San Francisco with passengers and cargo 12 July. She then loaded cargo and sailed 21 July for Eniwetok, arriving on 7 August.

"Habersham" was at Eniwetok when the surrender of Japan was announced, and departed 9 September to carry cargo for occupation forces in Japan. Arriving Tokyo Bay, 17 September, she unloaded cargo and departed for Guam and San Francisco 27 November. She arrived 12 January 1946 and sailed for the East Coast on 11 February, arriving Norfolk, Virginia 6 March. "Habersham" decommissioned at Baltimore, Maryland 9 April 1946 and was returned to the Maritime Commission. Sold into merchant service, she became "Rosa Thorden" and in 1952 "Pusan" for the Korean Shipping Corporation.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h1/habersham.htm