HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. KARNES  APA 175
(  December 3, 1944 - April 1946 )

USS KARNES  under the Oakland Bridge

The U.S.S. KARNES was named in honor of Karnes County, Texas.  The ship was built by the Portland Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon.  The keel was laid September 24, 1944 and the ship was launched on November 7.  She was placed in commission December 3 at the Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, 70 days after the keel was laid.

The KARNES visited Seattle, San Francisco, and proceeded to San Pedro Bay, California and underwent shakedown training under the San Pedro Shakedown Group.  From January 8-21, 1945, she engaged in amphibious training operations in the San Diego and Oceanside areas.  On completion of post-shakedown availability at the U.S. Naval Dry-docks, Terminal Island, California, military and civilian-employee passengers for forward areas were loaded in San Francisco, and on February 7, the ship departed for Pearl Harbor, T.H.

The KARNES left Pearl Harbor February 19, in convoy, en route to Saipan, via Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, and arrived Saipan Harbor on March 6.  Appropriate Golden Dragon ceremonies were held on board when the ship crossed the 180th Meridian, February 23.

On March 8, the ship left Saipan for Pearl Harbor, carrying 406 wounded Fifth Marine Division casualties from Iwo Jima, and arrived Pearl Harbor, March 17.

Attached to transport Squadron 22, Division 64, but operating independently, troops of the Fifth Anti-Aircraft Artillery B'n, Fleet Marine Force, and the rear echelon of the Eighth Anti-Aircraft Artillery B'n, Fleet Marine Force were embarked at Nawiliwili, Kauai, T.H., on April 1.  The ship left Pearl Harbor for Okinawa, in convoy, via Eniwetok and Ulithi Islands, April 7.

The KARNES participated in the Okinawa Operation, arriving at Okinawa Junto on May 3 as part of the Third Echelon.  Marine personnel, with equipment and supplies, were loaded by ship's boats and LCTs over Yellow Beach 3.  The crew was almost continually at battle stations due to Japanese Kamikaze attacks, and on the morning of May 4 (Okinawa time) a near-miss was suffered off the starboard bow from a bomb dropped from the "suicide" plane that crashed into the light cruiser BIRMINGHAM.  The KARNES portside 40mm guns expended 84 rounds of ammunition at the Jap plane, and OSCAR, before it dived into the cruiser.  The ship left Okinawa Shima May 8, carrying 866 survivors of ships sunk or badly damaged by Japanese "suicide" planes, and 128 Navy, Marine Corps and Tenth Army battle casualties.  The survivors included personnel from the destroyers LUCE, MORRISON, LITTLE, and the HAZELWOOD, and survivors, 367 and 41 of the casualties were disembarked at Saipan on May 13, and the remainder at San Francisco on May 27.

The KARNES left Pittsburgh, California, June 7, for Manila, via Eniwetok and Ulithi, steaming independently, and carrying 1460 Army officers and enlisted men designated as replacements for forward areas, and loaded with miscellaneous cargo.  On June 23, the ship was underway from Eniwetok for Ulithi as part of Task Unit 96.6.10, with OTC in the KARNES.  Troops and cargo were unloaded at Pier 3, Manila, July 1-9, and the ship departed for San Francisco, via Eniwetok, July 10.  A change in orders received July 14 diverted the ship to Pearl Harbor, T.H., where she arrived July 23.  The ship was engaged in maneuvers with Task Unit 13.10.13 in Maalaea Bay, off Maui, T.H., and trained elements of the 98th Infantry Division on probably the last invasion-rehearsal exercises of the war when the news of Japan's capitulation was received on August 14.  Following these maneuvers, the ship, attached to Transport Division 72 (temporary), proceeded to Hilo, Hawaii, T.H., and loaded the 1st B'n, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division on August 22.

On the afternoon of September 1, the KARNES took departure for Saipan with Task Group 54.21, consisting of TransCivs 39, 73, 64, and 22, and escorted by DesRon 13.  The Task Group departed from Saipan for Sasebo, Japan, and the initial occupation of the island of Kyushu on Spetember 16, with the U.S.S. Mt. McKinley (AGC 7), flying the flag of Rear Admiral Reifsnider, ComPhibGroup 4.

The KARNES participated in the occupation of Sasebo, third largest Japanese naval base, from September 22-25, unloading cargo at the Boat Basin and over Dock Item 7, using Jap pilots and tugs to approach the docks.  The ship's beach party operated Green Beaches 1 and 2, following the Fourth Wave ashore.  The Beach Master (Lt. Sam Byrd) accepted the surrender of the seaplane base as the Marines moved inland.

The ship departed Sasebo for Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I., on September 25, and arrived off Subic Bay, September 30, in the midst of a tropical disturbance which made maneuvering difficult.  At dark, she stood into Manila Bay for logistics and departed on October 2.  On October 3, the ship arrived in Lingayen Gulf and loaded the 127th Combat Team of the 32nd Infantry Division from White Beach 2, San Fabian Area, for Phase Three, the buildup phase of the occupation of Kyushu.

The KARNES returned to Sasebo Bay, Japan, October 14, 1945.  After leaving Sasebo, Japan on October 17, 1945, the ship sailed to Saipan arriving on October 23, 1945.  After a brief stay, the ship sailed for San Francisco, arriving on November 11, 1945.  We left San Francisco on November 21, 1945 with Guam as our destination.  We arrived in Guam on December 9, 1945 and remained there until December 10, 1945.  We picked up 600 Marines who had been there for the entire war.  We set sail from Taku, China December 22, 1945 and arrived in San Francisco on January 13, 1946.

The majority of the crew was transferred or discharged leaving a skeleton crew on board to sail the ship through the Panama Canal en route to Newport News, Virginia where after a short stay, she sailed to Norfolk, Virginia, putting in at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company for decommission in April of 1946.

The KARNES was then stored in the Moth Ball Fleet up the James River.  She remained there until she was sold for scrap on April 3, 1974 to Mr. Isaac Verela.  While in commission, she steamed a total of 76,750 miles.

U.S.S. KARNES (APA 175)

Named after Karnes County, Texas; Built at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon; Commissioned December 3, 1944, at Astoria, Oregon.

Will have completed, approximately, the following:
         66,167            Miles traveled (nautical)
         78,500            Engine miles steamed
               203            Days underway
               201            Days not underway
    3,357,162            Fuel consumed
          13,518            Passengers carried
    1,278,060            Meals served in General Mess
                 10            Crossing of Date Line
                   9            Major operations performed
               955            Teeth filled
           2, 879            Shots given
          30,000            APC pills issued
                565            Casualties carried
 102,500,000            Penicillin units given
$ 433,273.00            Payrolls to Jan. 1st, 1946.
                                  Money drawn on board
                113            Church services
             1,876            Books checked out of library
             8,300            Paper bound books issued

Submitted by Sam Berry                                                jshoulars@cox.net

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