USS Teton (AGC-14)

USS "Teton" (AGC-14) was a "Mount McKinley"-class amphibious force command ship in the United States Navy.

Commissioning and 1944

"Teton" was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1363) as "Water Witch" on 9 November 1943 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, North Carolina; launched on 5 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. C. E. Shimp; renamed "Teton" on 7 February 1944; acquired by the Navy on 18 October 1944; and commissioned the same day at Brooklyn, New York, with Captain Donald Rex Tallman in command.

Following shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, the amphibious force flagship, escorted by USS "Barr" (APD-39), steamed south; transited the Panama Canal; proceeded, via the Mare Island Navy Yard, to Hawaii; and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 19 January 1945. Four days later, Rear Admiral John L. Hall, Commander, Amphibious Group 12, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, hoisted his flag as his staff came on board.

1945-1946

"Teton" was attached to a convoy that got underway for the Philippines on 28 January. After stops at Eniwetok, Ulithi, and the Palaus, the force reached Leyte on 21 February. "Teton" next began rehearsals as flagship of Task Force 44 for the forthcoming assault against the Ryukyus. Commodore Clifford Greer Richardson, commanding Transport Squadron 14, and Major General John R. Hodge, commanding the XXIV Army Corps, embarked with their staffs. On 27 March, "Teton" got underway as flagship of Task Unit 51.13.1 and arrived off Okinawa on 1 April, the day the assault began. She remained there for 72 days controlling the landing operations on the Hagushi beaches and then providing standby control of offensive and defensive air operations. On 11 June, the ship got underway in a convoy bound for the Philippines.

"Teton" arrived at Subic Bay on 15 June and remained there until 17 August. When news of Japan's surrender arrived, Admiral Hall and his staff left the ship to transfer to USS "Hansford" (APA-106). "Teton" embarked Army forces for the occupation of Japan and proceeded to Honshū, arriving in Tokyo Bay on 29 August.

"Teton" stood out of Tokyo Bay on 25 September and headed for Guam to embark approximately 750 passengers for transportation to the United States. The ship reached San Francisco on 16 October; disembarked her passengers; and steamed west again three days later.

Decommissioning

"Teton" continued duty with the "Magic-Carpet" Fleet, returning servicemen from Pacific bases to the United States until early 1946. She began inactivation at San Diego in March 1946 and was decommissioned there on 30 August 1946. "Teton" was struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1961 and sold for scrap in March 1962 to Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, New York, New York

"Teton" received one battle star for World War II service.

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