USS La Grange (APA-124)
USS La Grange (APA-124), date and location unknown.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Builder: | California Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Launched: | 1 September 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 1 November 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 27 October 1945 |
| Honors and awards: |
1 Battle star |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1975 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 6,873 tons |
| Length: | 455 ft (139 m) |
| Beam: | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Draft: | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 17 knots |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
26 |
| Complement: | 56 Officers, 480 Enlisted |
| Armament: | |
USS La Grange (APA-124) was a Haskell-class attack transport of the US Navy. She was built and used during World War II. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type. La Grange was named for LaGrange County, Indiana.
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, Capt. Frank R. Walker in command.
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 attached 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.
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