After shakedown and amphibious training operations, La Grange departed San Diego 1 January 1945 for the western Pacific. Arriving Manus 18 January the attack transport carried cargo and passengers to Hollandia and the Philippines before joining Transport Squadron 17. Following a month of intensive preparations, La Grange departed Dulag Harbor, Philippine Islands, as part of the western islands attack group in the greatest amphibious assault of the Pacific war, the invasion of Okinawa. Arriving in the transport area off Kerama Retto, 26 March, La Grange successfully landed advance forces who took that small cluster of islands which served as an advance naval base for fueling, repairs, and replenishment during the conquest of Okinawa itself. On 2 April, upon retiring from Kerama Retto, the convoy in which she was traveling was attacked by Kamakaze aircraft and is credited with the downing of one aircraft. Private First Class Max Drucker, Company M, 306th Infantry (an embarked troop) was given credit for saving the U.S.S. La Grange from damage. Drucker was on deck near a 20mm antiaircraft gun when the surprise attack of 8 aircraft began. One of the Kamikaze planes approached the La Grange in a steep glide. Drucker leaped to the gun, got into action and directed an accurate stream of fire at the enemy aircraft. His was the only gun engaging the enemy. About 200 yards from the ship the Jap veered suddenly and fell into the sea. La Grange remained off Okinawa for the next 30 days supporting operations on shore.
Returning to Saipan 5 May, La Grange sailed 2 weeks later with Navy passengers bound for San Francisco. She resumed war operations upon her arrival Eniwetok 11 July, and sailed for Okinawa 29 July. Arriving Buckner Bay 1 week later, La Grange unloaded cargo needed for the final days of the war. While anchored in Buckner Bay 13 August, she came under enemy air attack and suffered the last known kamikaze attacks of the war.
Despite accurate antiaircraft fire, an unidentified kamikaze carrying a 500-pound bomb crashed into La Grange's superstructure. A second suicide plane struck the top of a kingpost and splashed 20 yards from the ship. The transport suffered considerable damage in both strikes, with 21 sailors killed and 89 wounded.
After hostilities ended 15 August, La Grange did field repairs and prepared for the cruise home. Departing Guam 6 September, she arrived San Francisco 21 September. Because of the remaining battle damage, La Grange decommissioned there 27 October 1945 and was returned to the War Shipping Administration for transfer back to her original owner. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California.[1]
Fateedit
In 1955 La Grange was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet as part of a Repair Program, GAA Coastwise Line, and then returned.[1] On 18 April 1975 she was sold to Nicolai Joffe Corp., for $208,489.78, to be scrapped.[1] At 1130 PDT, on 21 May 1975 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker's yard.[1]
Awardsedit
La Grange received one battle star for World War II service.
Notesedit
^It is not certain how the ship's name was capitalized or if there was a space. Navy records are usually all uppercase, (i.e. LAGRANGE), while the usually authoritative on-line DANFS lists the ship as Lagrange. The current official spelling of the county name is LaGrange. The builders plate has "SS LA GRANGE" and on-line construction records have La Grange, so La Grange is used in this article.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS La Grange (APA-124).
April 10, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message USS La Grange APA 124 was a Haskell class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1945 She was scrapped in 1975 HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS La GrangeNamesakeLaGrange County IndianaBuilderCalifornia Shipbuilding CorporationLaunched1 September 1944Commissioned1 November 1944Decommissioned27 October 1945Honors andawards1 Battle starFateSold for scrap 18 April 1975General characteristicsClass and typeHaskell class attack transportDisplacement6 873 tons lt 14 837 t fl Length455 ft 139 m Beam62 ft 19 m Draft24 ft 7 m Propulsion1 geared turbine 2 header type boilers 1 propeller designed 8 500 shp 6 338 kW Speed17 knots 31 km h 20 mph Boats amp landing craft carried2 LCM 12 LCVP 3 LCPLCapacityTroops 86 officers 1 475 enlisted Cargo 150 000 cu ft 2 900 tonsComplement56 officers 480 enlistedArmament1 5 38 dual purpose gun 4 twin 40mm guns 10 single 20mm guns late armament add 1 40mm quad mount Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Fate 2 Awards 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory editLa Grange was of the VC2 S AP5 Victory ship design type and was named for LaGrange County Indiana a La Grange was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 26 June 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corp Wilmington California launched 1 September 1944 sponsored by Mrs Albert Krutcher acquired by the Navy 10 November 1944 and commissioned 11 November 1944 World War II edit After shakedown and amphibious training operations La Grange departed San Diego 1 January 1945 for the western Pacific Arriving Manus 18 January the attack transport carried cargo and passengers to Hollandia and the Philippines before joining Transport Squadron 17 Following a month of intensive preparations La Grange departed Dulag Harbor Philippine Islands as part of the western islands attack group in the greatest amphibious assault of the Pacific war the invasion of Okinawa Arriving in the transport area off Kerama Retto 26 March La Grange successfully landed advance forces who took that small cluster of islands which served as an advance naval base for fueling repairs and replenishment during the conquest of Okinawa itself On 2 April upon retiring from Kerama Retto the convoy in which she was traveling was attacked by Kamakaze aircraft and is credited with the downing of one aircraft Private First Class Max Drucker Company M 306th Infantry an embarked troop was given credit for saving the U S S La Grange from damage Drucker was on deck near a 20mm antiaircraft gun when the surprise attack of 8 aircraft began One of the Kamikaze planes approached the La Grange in a steep glide Drucker leaped to the gun got into action and directed an accurate stream of fire at the enemy aircraft His was the only gun engaging the enemy About 200 yards from the ship the Jap veered suddenly and fell into the sea La Grange remained off Okinawa for the next 30 days supporting operations on shore Returning to Saipan 5 May La Grange sailed 2 weeks later with Navy passengers bound for San Francisco She resumed war operations upon her arrival Eniwetok 11 July and sailed for Okinawa 29 July Arriving Buckner Bay 1 week later La Grange unloaded cargo needed for the final days of the war While anchored in Buckner Bay 13 August she came under enemy air attack and suffered the last known kamikaze attacks of the war Despite accurate antiaircraft fire an unidentified kamikaze carrying a 500 pound bomb crashed into La Grange s superstructure A second suicide plane struck the top of a kingpost and splashed 20 yards from the ship The transport suffered considerable damage in both strikes with 21 sailors killed and 89 wounded After hostilities ended 15 August La Grange did field repairs and prepared for the cruise home Departing Guam 6 September she arrived San Francisco 21 September Because of the remaining battle damage La Grange decommissioned there 27 October 1945 and was returned to the War Shipping Administration for transfer back to her original owner She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay California 1 Fate edit In 1955 La Grange was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet as part of a Repair Program GAA Coastwise Line and then returned 1 On 18 April 1975 she was sold to Nicolai Joffe Corp for 208 489 78 to be scrapped 1 At 1130 PDT on 21 May 1975 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker s yard 1 Awards editLa Grange received one battle star for World War II service Notes edit It is not certain how the ship s name was capitalized or if there was a space Navy records are usually all uppercase i e LAGRANGE while the usually authoritative on line DANFS lists the ship as Lagrange The current official spelling of the county name is LaGrange The builders plate has SS LA GRANGE and on line construction records have La Grange so La Grange is used in this article References edit a b c d Reserve Fleet Division Vessel Data Lagrange Retrieved 2006 10 11 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS La Grange APA 124 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS La Grange amp oldid 1155565396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
