USS President Polk (AP-103)

USS "President Polk" (AP-103) was a "President Jackson"-class transport in the service of the United States Navy during World War II.

"President Polk" was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia (MC hull 110) 7 October 1940; launched 28 June 1941; sponsored by Miss Patricia Kennedy; acquired by the Navy 6 September 1943; and commissioned at San Diego 4 October 1943, Comdr. Clarence J. Ballreich in command.

World War II

Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service, "President Polk" loaded construction battalion men and cargo at Port Hueneme, California and sailed 12 October for Pearl Harbor.

Invasions of Tarawa and Kwajalein

On 16 November she got underway for the invasion of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, where she unloaded her troops and cargo and then stood by as casualty receiving ship. Returning to Pearl Harbor 11 December, she weighed anchor again 22 January 1944 to carry troops to Kwajalein in the Marshalls. Again used as an emergency hospital ship, she carried casualties to San Francisco, 24 February, then got underway with troops and cargo for New Caledonia, the Solomons, and the Admiralties.

Invasion of Leyte

In July she carried reinforcements to Guam and again sailed east with wounded personnel, arriving at Pearl Harbor 11 August and continuing on to California where she took on personnel and cargo for New Guinea. Arriving at Milne Bay 6 November, she loaded passengers and cargo, then proceeded to Bougainville to prepare for the invasion of Luzon. Disembarking troops on the Lingayen assault beaches, 11 January 1945, she ferried reinforcements from Leyte, then sailed to Ulithi to take on Marines at Iwo Jima and return them to Hawaii. Thence she steamed to San Francisco, took on fresh troops, and headed west to Okinawa 24 July.

After hostilities

V-J Day found her in Apra Harbor, Guam, whence she returned to San Francisco. Next, she transported troops from Seattle to Tinian, reported for Operation Magic Carpet 13 October, and completed runs from Espiritu Santo and Manila to San Francisco before the end of the year.

Decommission

Decommissioned and transferred to the War Shipping Administration for return to her owner 26 January 1946, "President Polk" was struck from the Navy List 25 February 1946.

Awards

"President Polk" earned six battle stars for her World War II service.

References

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22103.htm NavSource Online Photo Archive: AP-103 "President Polk"]
* [http://www.apl.com/history/timeline/stat6.htm#ppo2 APL Shipping]
*DANFS|http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap103.txt