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USS President Jackson (APA-18)
Encyclopedia
USS President Jackson (APA-18) was a that saw service with the US Navy in World War II
and the Korean War
. She was the lead ship
in her class.
. 2 October 1939; launched 7 June 1940; sponsored by Mrs. William G. McAdoo; and delivered to the American President Lines 25 October 1940.
After two round-the-world trips from New York
, President Jackson was acquired by the Navy 30 June 1941, and commissioned 16 January 1942, Comdr. C. W. Weitzel in command.
and practice amphibious
assault training on the U.S. West Coast, President Jackson sailed for the South Pacific 1 July 1942, as a unit of Transport Division 2. She landed the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, on Florida Island, Solomon Islands
, 7 August 1942. At mid-month she evacuated 500 survivors of the “First Battle of Savo Island
” to Noumea
, then began bringing in reinforcements and evacuating casualties of land and sea actions.
Redesignated APA–18 on 1 February 1943, President Jackson continued to transport reinforcement troops and cargo in support of the consolidation of the southern Solomons. On 30 June, she landed the 172nd U.S. Army Combat Team and two construction battalion companies on Rendova, then transported survivors of , torpedoed by a submarine, to Noumea
.
Operating with other vessels of task force
TF 31, President Jackson landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division at Empress Augusta Bay
, Bougainville Island
, 1 November. Seven days later, while en route back to that island with reinforcements, she was hit by a 550 pounds (249.5 kg) bomb, which fortunately did not explode.
On 25 March 1944 President Jackson landed Army, Navy, and Construction Battalion units on Emirau Island
and in April, with Transport Division Two, she carried the 40th Division, to New Britain
, and returned the 1st Marine Division to Russell Islands
in the Solomons. With task force TF 53, in July, she landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division on Guam
, 21 July, then evacuated casualties to Pearl Harbor
and the United States
. On 23 October the ship returned to duty with Transport Division 32 in the south and southwest Pacific areas.
While operating with TF 77, President Jackson landed elements of the 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, in the reinforcement landing at Lingayen Gulf
11 January 1945. On 21 February, while operating with TF 51, she landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division on Iwo Jima
. Exposed to enemy counter-battery fire, she was hit once in a barrage of 37mm fire with minor damage and casualties. On 6 March she departed Iwo Jima
with 515 casualties for Saipan
and Noumea
.
With Army and Navy casualties and miscellaneous passengers aboard, the transport sailed for the United States 7 May 1945. She got underway from San Francisco, California
, 14 June and completed two round-trips to Manila
before the cessation of hostilities which found her in drydock at Seattle, Washington
. She then entered upon “Operation Magic Carpet” duty.
and China
. She was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service with her designation changed to T-AP-18, 22 October 1949.
On 7 February 1950 President Jackson, with cabin and troop passengers on board, got underway from San Francisco for Norfolk, Virginia
, arriving 23 February. She returned to San Francisco 25 March, subsequently making round trips to Manila and Pearl Harbor.
President Jackson reported to the Commander, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet for operational control. Loading troops and equipment of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division
at San Diego, she sailed 14 August for Japan, arriving Kobe
29 August to prepare for the invasion at Inchon. Departing Kobe 11 September with vessels of task group
TG 90.2, she unloaded on the assault beaches of Inchon, served as a casualty receiving ship, then evacuated the casualties to Yokohama
and San Francisco.
On 12 October President Jackson sailed from San Diego, California
, carrying miscellaneous cargo for Japan. Returning to San Francisco, she subsequently called at Seattle, Washington
, Alaska
, Japan
, and Korea
. After another run to Alaska in April 1952, President Jackson departed San Francisco for Pago Pago to transport dependents from Pago Pago to Pearl Harbor, returning to San Francisco in August. During 1953 she operated between San Francisco, Alaska, and Pearl Harbor.
Carrying a full load of passengers and cargo for Yokohama, Japan, President Jackson got underway from San Francisco 25 January 1954, returning 23 February. After two roundtrips to Pearl Harbor, she departed for Alaska again 20 April with various units of the 30th Engineers Base Topographic Battalion, returning to San Francisco 14 May before making a second voyage to Alaska ending at San Francisco 5 June.
On 11 June President Jackson got underway for Yokohama
carrying a full load of dependents and a small number of troop passengers, returning to San Francisco 8 July with passengers and cargo.
On 28 December she shifted to Todd Shipyard, Alameda, California
, for phase one of inactivation. She was placed out of commission, in reserve, berthed at San Francisco, 6 July 1955. She was struck from the Navy List
and transferred to the Maritime Commission 1 October 1958, sold for scrapping, 23 April 1973 and delivered, 15 May 1973, to N.W. Kennedy Ltd., Mitsui & Co., (Canada) Ltd.
President Jackson earned 8 battle stars for World War II service and 3 battle stars for Korean War service.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. She was the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
in her class.
Operational history
President Jackson was laid down as MC hull 53 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
. 2 October 1939; launched 7 June 1940; sponsored by Mrs. William G. McAdoo; and delivered to the American President Lines 25 October 1940.
After two round-the-world trips from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, President Jackson was acquired by the Navy 30 June 1941, and commissioned 16 January 1942, Comdr. C. W. Weitzel in command.
World War II Pacific Theater operations
Following shakedownShakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
and practice amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
assault training on the U.S. West Coast, President Jackson sailed for the South Pacific 1 July 1942, as a unit of Transport Division 2. She landed the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, on Florida Island, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, 7 August 1942. At mid-month she evacuated 500 survivors of the “First Battle of Savo Island
Battle of Savo Island
The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces...
” to Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, then began bringing in reinforcements and evacuating casualties of land and sea actions.
Redesignated APA–18 on 1 February 1943, President Jackson continued to transport reinforcement troops and cargo in support of the consolidation of the southern Solomons. On 30 June, she landed the 172nd U.S. Army Combat Team and two construction battalion companies on Rendova, then transported survivors of , torpedoed by a submarine, to Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
.
Operating with other vessels of task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
TF 31, President Jackson landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division at Empress Augusta Bay
Empress Augusta Bay
Empress Augusta Bay is a major bay on the western side of the island of Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea, at . It is a major subsistence fishing area for the people of Bougainville. It is named after Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein, wife of German Emperor William II.In November 1943, the...
, Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
, 1 November. Seven days later, while en route back to that island with reinforcements, she was hit by a 550 pounds (249.5 kg) bomb, which fortunately did not explode.
On 25 March 1944 President Jackson landed Army, Navy, and Construction Battalion units on Emirau Island
Emirau Island
Emirau Island, also called Emira, is an island in the Bismarck Archipelago located at . It is currently part of the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea. The local language is a dialect of the Mussau-Emira language...
and in April, with Transport Division Two, she carried the 40th Division, to New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, and returned the 1st Marine Division to Russell Islands
Russell Islands
The Russell Islands are two small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. They are located approximately 48 km northwest from Guadalcanal. The islands are partially covered in coconut plantations, and have a copra and oil factory at...
in the Solomons. With task force TF 53, in July, she landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division on Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, 21 July, then evacuated casualties to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On 23 October the ship returned to duty with Transport Division 32 in the south and southwest Pacific areas.
While operating with TF 77, President Jackson landed elements of the 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, in the reinforcement landing at Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
11 January 1945. On 21 February, while operating with TF 51, she landed elements of the 3rd Marine Division on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. Exposed to enemy counter-battery fire, she was hit once in a barrage of 37mm fire with minor damage and casualties. On 6 March she departed Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
with 515 casualties for Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
.
With Army and Navy casualties and miscellaneous passengers aboard, the transport sailed for the United States 7 May 1945. She got underway from San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, 14 June and completed two round-trips to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
before the cessation of hostilities which found her in drydock at Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. She then entered upon “Operation Magic Carpet” duty.
Post war period
President Jackson continued to operate with the U.S. Pacific Fleet until 1949, seeing service in both JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service with her designation changed to T-AP-18, 22 October 1949.
On 7 February 1950 President Jackson, with cabin and troop passengers on board, got underway from San Francisco for Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, arriving 23 February. She returned to San Francisco 25 March, subsequently making round trips to Manila and Pearl Harbor.
Korean War and later years
With the outbreak of the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
President Jackson reported to the Commander, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet for operational control. Loading troops and equipment of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division
2nd Battalion 1st Marines
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed "The Professionals," the battalion consists of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors...
at San Diego, she sailed 14 August for Japan, arriving Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
29 August to prepare for the invasion at Inchon. Departing Kobe 11 September with vessels of task group
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
TG 90.2, she unloaded on the assault beaches of Inchon, served as a casualty receiving ship, then evacuated the casualties to Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
and San Francisco.
On 12 October President Jackson sailed from San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, carrying miscellaneous cargo for Japan. Returning to San Francisco, she subsequently called at Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. After another run to Alaska in April 1952, President Jackson departed San Francisco for Pago Pago to transport dependents from Pago Pago to Pearl Harbor, returning to San Francisco in August. During 1953 she operated between San Francisco, Alaska, and Pearl Harbor.
Carrying a full load of passengers and cargo for Yokohama, Japan, President Jackson got underway from San Francisco 25 January 1954, returning 23 February. After two roundtrips to Pearl Harbor, she departed for Alaska again 20 April with various units of the 30th Engineers Base Topographic Battalion, returning to San Francisco 14 May before making a second voyage to Alaska ending at San Francisco 5 June.
On 11 June President Jackson got underway for Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
carrying a full load of dependents and a small number of troop passengers, returning to San Francisco 8 July with passengers and cargo.
On 28 December she shifted to Todd Shipyard, Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
, for phase one of inactivation. She was placed out of commission, in reserve, berthed at San Francisco, 6 July 1955. She was struck from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
and transferred to the Maritime Commission 1 October 1958, sold for scrapping, 23 April 1973 and delivered, 15 May 1973, to N.W. Kennedy Ltd., Mitsui & Co., (Canada) Ltd.
President Jackson earned 8 battle stars for World War II service and 3 battle stars for Korean War service.
External links
- President Jackson AP-37 - DANFS Online.