USS Audrain ( APA - 59 ) USS " Audrain " ( APA - 59 ) was a " Gilliam " - class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II . Laid down 1 December 1943 , " Audrain " was launched on 21 April 1944 , acquired by the Navy 1 September 1944 and commissioned the next day . Construction . Audrain ( APA - 59 ) was laid down on 1 December 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract ( MC hull 1852 ) at Wilmington , Calif . , by the Consolidated Steel Corp . ; launched on 21 April 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . Arthur G . Rystrom ; acquired by the Navy on 1 September 1944 ; and placed in commission at San Pedro , Calif . , on 2 September 1944 , Lt . Comdr . George 0 . Forrest in command . The newly commissioned transport held shakedown training off the southern California coast . In late October , she sailed to San Francisco , Calif . , and took on passengers and cargo . On the 21st , Audrain got underway for Manus , Admiralty Islands . While en route the ship developed leaks in the tubes of one boiler and , upon her arrival at Manus on 9 November , began a period ot repair work The transport then proceeded to Nouméa , New Caledonia , to embark Army troops for training exercises in preparation for landings on Luzon , Philippine Islands . During December , she held exercises off Nouméa as well as at Guadalcanal and Tulagi , Solomon Islands . World War II . " Audrain " participated in two combat operations , the landings at Lingayen Gulf ( 9 January 1944 ) and the massive invasion of Okinawa ( 1 to 9 April 1945 ) . Audrain got underway on 2 January 1945 with lask Group ( TG ) 77 . 9 with troops embarked for the assault on Luzon . She anchored in the transport area in Lingayen Gulf on the morning of 9 January and landed her troops without opposition . The unloading was completed by the evening of the 12th , and the transport retired with her task unit to Leyte , Philippine Islands . On the 18th , Audrain shaped a course for Biak , Schouten Islands . There , she took on troops and equipment for transportation to Mindoro , Philippine Islands . She discharged these passengers and their gear on secured beaches in the San Jose area of Mindoro on 9 February and retired to Leyte Gulf . During the next several weeks , Audrain was involved in training exercises in Philippine waters . On 27 March , the vessel got underway with TG 55 . 1 for the invasion of Okinawa . She arrived off that island on D day , 1 April , began lowering her boats , and sent them to other transports to assist in landing their assault troops . On the morning of the 3d , Audrain began landing her troops and cargo in the Hagushi area . She experienced several air attacks while in the area . On 6 June , Audrain opened fire on a lone Japanese " Val " but scored no hits . However , two 40 - millimeter projectiles fired by neighboring vessels hit her on the forward bulkhead of the navigation bridge , slightly wounding three members of her crew . The landings were completed on 9 April , and the vessel left the Okinawa area bound for Hawaii . The ship paused at Guam on the 14th to transfer casualties from Okinawa to hospitals ashore , and then she continued on to Pearl Harbor . Audrain arrived there on 1 May and underwent a 10 - day period of voyage repairs . She then sailed on to San Francisco , arriving there on 18 May . The ship entered the yards of Hurley Marine Works , Oakland , Calif . , for repairs and alterations . After leaving the yard , the ship took on passengers and cargo for transportation to forward areas . She got underway for Pearl Harbor on 31 May . Following a brief layover in that port , Audrain shaped a course for Leyte . She made stops en route at Eniwetok and Ulithi before arriving at Leyte on 30 June . The ship discharged her cargo ashore and embarked Navy passengers bound for the United States . She shaped a course back to the west coast via Pearl Harbor and reached San Francisco on the 29th . After discharging her passengers , the transport returned to Hurley Marine Works to undergo repairs and alterations . While she was in the yard , the Japanese capitulated on 15 August . The ship returned to duty on 18 August and got underway for Guam . She paused en route at Eniwetok before arriving at Guam on 2 September . Audrain proceeded to Saipan and dropped anchor there on the 10th . She loaded cargo and troops of the 2d Marine Division earmarked for occupation duty in Japan . Voyage Home & Decommission . The transport sailed for Japan on 18 September . She touched at Nagasaki five days later and landed her forces without incident . On the 26th , Audrain left Japan , via Manila , and sailed to Subic Bay , Philippines . She embarked more troops there and reversed her course to Japan . She put these passengers ashore for occupation of Wakayama . On 1 November , the ship arrived back at Manila . She took on military passengers for return to the United States . Audrain touched at Portland , Oreg . , on 27 November . She then entered a shipyard there for repairs . The vessel commenced another voyage to Japan on 26 December . She arrived at Yokohama on 14 January 1946 and debarked troops and supplies . She left Japanese waters on the 27th and set a course for San Pedro via Pearl Harbor . Audrain left California , sailed back to Hawaii in early April , and remained in port at Pearl Harbor for the duration of her naval career . " Audrain " was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor on 15 May 1946 , and transferred to the Maritime Commission 25 July 1947 , for laying up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay , California . Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1947 , and the ship was sold for scrap 11 July 1972 to the National Metal & Steel Corporation of Terminal Island , California . Decorations . " Audrain " earned one battle star for her World War II service .