USS Bowie ( APA - 137 ) USS " Bowie " ( APA - 137 ) was a acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas . " Bowie " ( " APA - 137 " ) was laid down on 28 August 1944 at Wilmington , California , by the California Shipbuilding Corp . under a Maritime Commission contract ( MCV hull 53 ) ; launched on 31 October 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . J . Shaw ; delivered to the Navy on 21 December 1944 : and commissioned on 23 December 1944 at Terminal Island , California , Comdr . Frank L . Durnell in command . World War II service . Outfitting , shakedown , and amphibious training occupied " Bowie " until the second week in February 1945 . After post - shakedown availability at Terminal Island , she loaded cargo at the Naval Supply Depot , Oakland , California , and set sail on 20 February for the Mariana Islands . She made a refueling stop at Eniwetok in the Marshalls before arriving at Guam on 10 March . The attack transport completed cargo operations there on 16 March and then moved to Saipan on the 17th to embark casualties . She put to sea for Hawaii that same day and entered Pearl Harbor on 27 March . The ship conducted local operations in Hawaiian waters and engaged in upkeep in Pearl Harbor until mid - April . At that time , she began combat loading elements of the 10th Army bound for duty in the Okinawa campaign . Putting troops ashore at Okinawa . " Bowie " stood out of Pearl Harbor on 17 April in a convoy . She arrived off the Hagushi beaches on Okinawa on 10 May . The troops went ashore immediately , and the attack transport began unloading cargo and taking on casualties . During her stay in the Ryūkyūs , " Bowie " witnessed a number of air raids but did not come under attack herself . On 15 May , the attack transport left Okinawa in a Hawaii - bound convoy . She made two stops , one at Ulithi and the other at Guam , before arriving back in Pearl Harbor on 3 June . She remained there overnight and , on the 4th , headed for the west coast . " Bowie " reached San Francisco , California , on 10 June and disembarked the casualties and other passengers . Later in the month , she loaded cargo and took on troops . The ship loosed her moorings on 17 June and stood out of San Francisco Bay . On her way across the Pacific Ocean to the Philippines , Bowie stopped at Eniwetok and Ulithi for fuel . She arrived at Tacloban , on Leyte , on 9 July and began discharging cargo and troops . Five days later , the attack transport headed back to Hawaii . End - of - war operations . " Bowie " spent almost two months in the Hawaiian Islands . When not in port at either Pearl Harbor or Honolulu , she conducted rehearsal landings at various locations in the islands . On 1 September , she left Pearl Harbor in a convoy bound ultimately for Japan . She stopped at Saipan to take on fuel and provisions from 13 to 16 September and arrived at Sasebo , Japan , on the 22d . Her troops went ashore on the 24th , and " Bowie " cleared Sasebo the next day . She took on boats at Subic Bay on 30 September and then moved to Manila . The attack transport moved to Lingayen Gulf on 2 and 3 October and began embarking troops destined for occupation service in Japan . She departed Lingayen Gulf in convoy on 9 October and arrived in Sasebo on the 14th . She did not , however , disembark her passengers until 18 October . On the 22d , " Bowie " departed Sasebo and proceeded to Guam where she stopped on the 27th . Continuing her voyage that same day , the ship reached San Diego , California , on 12 November . Post - war activity . The attack transport made a round - trip voyage from the west coast to Guam and back between 27 November and 27 December bringing veterans of the Pacific theater home to the United States . On 16 January 1946 , " Bowie " departed San Pedro on her way to the U . S . East Coast . Steaming via San Diego and the Panama Canal , she arrived in Norfolk , Virginia , on 4 February . There , the ship began preparations for inactivation . Post - war decommissioning . On 8 March 1946 , " Bowie " was placed out of commission at Norfolk . She was returned to the Maritime Commission on 14 March 1946 , and her name was struck from the Navy list on 28 March 1946 . She was berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet at James River , Virginia , and remained there until 9 April 1973 at which time she was sold to the Union Minerals & Alloys Corp . , New York City , for scrapping . Military awards and honors . " Bowie " received one battle star for World War II service at Okinawa .