USS Hendry ( APA - 118 ) USS " Hendry " ( APA - 118 ) was a of the US Navy that was built and served in World War II . She was of the VC2 - S - AP5 Victory ship design type . She was named after Hendry County , Florida . World War II service . " Hendry " was launched under Maritime Commission contract 24 June 1944 by California Shipbuilding Company , Wilmington , California ; sponsored by Mrs . James K . Herbert ; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 29 September 1944 , Captain R . C . Welles in command . Following a rigorous shakedown cruise " Hendry " sailed 23 October for Pearl Harbor , arriving 29 October . The transport then took part in extended amphibious training operations , designed to bring assault forces and ship ' s crews to a peak of readiness for the climactic operations ahead in the Pacific . She departed 11 December with troops to Midway , returning 9 days later , and got underway again 27 January , this time for the giant invasion of Iwo Jima . " Hendry " arrived Saipan to join the invasion fleet 11 February , and departed 16 February for Iwo Jima . Her troops were among the initial invasion forces early on the morning of 19 February , and for the 6 days that followed " Hendry " unloaded troops and supplies on the beaches , retiring at night under escort protection . Her gunners were busy during this dangerous period ; Japanese planes succeeded in sinking escort carrier and damaging but suffered heavy losses . " Hendry " sailed for Saipan 25 February , arriving 3 days later . " Hendry " remained in the Saipan area until late March , taking part in training for the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific , the capture of Okinawa in Japan ' s back yard . She sailed 27 March as part of a mighty armada , called by British observers " the most audacious and complex enterprise yet undertaken by the American amphibious forces . " Arriving Easter Sunday , the morning of the first landings , " Hendry " put ashore her troops and for the next 10 days survived fierce kamikaze attacks , which took a heavy toll on American transports and escort vessels in the Okinawa area but were themselves destroyed and did not even check the steady progress of the invasion . Her gunners and those of the supporting ships kept " Hendry " free from damage until she departed the bitterly contested island 10 April . After her arrival at Saipan 14 April , the transport sailed to Tulagi , Espiritu Santo , Eniwetok , and Guam , with troop contingents , departing Guam 21 July 1945 for the United States . She arrived San Pedro 6 August and after the surrender sailed 26 August for the western Pacific . " Hendry " embarked occupation troops at Manila and Lingayen Gulf , Philippines , in late September , and arrived Nagoya , Japan , 7 October . After unloading she sailed again for the United States arriving San Francisco via the Philippines 21 November . On this voyage she was a unit of " Magic Carpet , " participating in the gigantic task of bringing home veterans of the Pacific war . After a voyage to Pearl Harbor and return , the ship departed San Diego for the East Coast 14 January 1946 , arrived 30 January at Norfolk and decommissioned 21 February . " Hendry " was placed in the Maritime Commission ' s National Defense Reserve Fleet on the James River . Fate . Between 4 April and 29 June 1955 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet for a Repair Program , GAA - So . Atlantic , and returned . Ex - " Hendry " was sold to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation for US $ 111 , 560 on 9 April 1973 . At 1140 EDT , on 22 June 1973 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker ' s yard . All that remains of " Hendry " is her brass builder ' s plate . Awards . " Hendry " received two battle star s for World War II service .