- USS President Monroe (AP-104)
USS "President Monroe" (AP-104) was a "President Jackson" class
transport [There is some doubt as to whether this vessel was ever formally designated President Jackson class. TheDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships does not record her class, although some other sources (such as Navsource) do. Unlike the majority of ships of the class she was never formally reclassified an attack transport (APA); however, she was originally a sister ship of the other ships in the class and like them she appears to have served in theattack transport role during the war.] that served with theUS Navy duringWorld War II ."President Monroe" was the sixth of seven C3-P&C type vessels built for
American President Lines around-the-world service just prior to the outbreak of World War II. She was laid down 13 November 1939 byNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company ofNewport News, Virginia ; and launched 7 August 1940.World War II
The new SS "President Monroe" was just clearing
San Francisco Bay on her maiden voyage around the world when word was flashed to her Master to return, as Japan had just attackedPearl Harbor . She and her six sisterships were immediately acquired byWar Shipping Administration on bareboat charter for outfitting for war service.Transferred to the Navy 18 July 1943, "President Monroe" shifted to
Pool, McGonigle & Jennings Company yard ofPortland, Oregon for alterations. Commissioned 20 August, Capt. G. C. Morrison in command, she departed Portland 24 August for theBremerton Navy Yard for conversion and outfitting.After brief shakedown, she commenced her first "pay" run 9 September on the Aleutian Service. Carrying replacement troops and cargo, she steamed for
Kodiak ,Dutch Harbor , andAdak, Alaska . She also embarked assault troops atKiska and transported them to Pearl Harbor, and then returned toSan Francisco to be outfitted with landing craft.Gilbert Islands invasion
Departing the west coast 3 November, the transport joined forces that were marshaling at Pearl Harbor for the first move of the Central Pacific Drive--the
Gilbert Islands invasion. She arrivedAbemama Atoll on the morning of the 27th bringing the atoll's garrison group cargo and personnel. She touched at Tarawa before sailing for Pearl Harbor with battleship USS|Tennessee|BB-43 and transport USS|President Polk|AP-103.Marshall Islands operations
She remained at Pearl Harbor until 23 January 1944, when she embarked a contingent of marines and steamed for
Kwajalein Atoll. She next transported assault troops toEniwetok , participating through 25 February in the successful landings onEngebi , Eniwetok, andParry . DepartingRoi -Namur , Kwajalein Atoll 29 February, she called atFunafuti, Ellice Islands , and then was routed toGuadalcanal .Invasion of Guam
Following a cruise to
Milne Bay ,Manus Island andNew Caledonia , the transport engaged in logistics and practice landings for the assault onGuam . Between 21 and 26 July, she discharged troops and cargo off Guam, then steamed for Eniwetok to embark wounded before proceeding toSan Pedro, California , arriving 22 August 1944. By 4 November, she once again stood out fromSan Diego and ended the year operating between Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, andPort Purvis .She joined the well-screened Task Group 77.9 en route
Lingayen Gulf 2 January 1945, and unloaded troops and cargo in theSan Fabian area between 11 and 13 January. Propulsion problems necessitated repairs atLeyte , after which she steamed in convoy for Humboldt Bay,New Guinea , thence toUlithi . There she was designated flagship for Transport Division "D" of Task Unit 12.6.1 and steamed forIwo Jima , arriving 18 March. Embarking troops there, she steamed forHawaii , en route to San Francisco.After hostilities
Through the end of 1945 she made several runs to
Pacific Island bases. With the end of hostilities, she extended her cruises toJapan and participated inOperation Magic Carpet , the giant sealift organized to bring demobilizing servicemen home.Decommission
The transport entered
Hunter's Point Naval Drydock 12 January 1946, decommissioned, and was redelivered to WSA 30 January, returned to American President Lines 21 February, and struck from the Navy List 12 March.Commercial service
Following decommission, "President Monroe" was returned to American President Lines for commercial service on 21 February 1947. She was sold in 1965 to the Greek Shipping Company, reflagged, and renamed SS "Marianna V". She was scrapped in 1973.
Awards
"President Monroe" received five
battle star s for World War II service.Footnotes
References
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap104.txt USS "President Monroe" (AP-104)] , DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22104.htm AP-104 "President Monroe"] , Navsource Online.
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