USS Feland ( APA - 11 ) USS Feland ( APA - 11 ) was a " Doyen " - class attack transport which served with the US Navy during World War II . She saw service in the Pacific War , and safely returned home post - war with five battle stars to her credit . " Feland " was launched 10 November 1942 as a troop transport , designation AP - 18 , by Consolidated Steel Corporation , Los Angeles , California ; sponsored by Mrs . L . Feland , widow of General Feland ; and commissioned 21 June 1943 , Captain C . A . Mission in command . She was redesignated an attack transport on 1 February 1943 . World War II . " Feland " carried marines from San Diego , California , to Pago Pago , arriving 24 August 1943 , then sailed on to New Zealand for landing exercises , which she continued at Efate in November . Invasion of Tarawa . On 13 November , she sortied from Efate for the invasion of Tarawa on 20 November , and for 8 days lay off the bitterly contested island , landing reserve troops , loading casualties , and re - embarking troops when the island was secured . These men she carried to Pearl Harbor , arriving 7 December . After training operations and brief overhaul , " Feland " put to sea with soldiers 22 January 1944 , bound for Kwajalein . She landed the troops as reserves on 1 February , one day after the initial assault , and re - embarked them a week later when the atoll had been won . " Feland " returned to Honolulu with troops and casualties 15 February , landed them , embarked passengers , and sailed for a U . S . West Coast overhaul . Invasion of Saipan . The transport returned to Pearl Harbor 6 May 1944 , and after training , arrived at Eniwetok 9 June . Two days later , combat loaded , she sailed for the invasion of Saipan , and on 15 June took part in a demonstration landing at Tanapag Harbor , while the main assault was made north of Charan - Kanoa . The next day " Feland " began to send troops and cargo ashore , but that night was ordered to retire from the island , to avoid the danger of an expected Japanese attack . She returned 21 June to complete unloading and embark casualties for Honolulu . Invasion of Guam . " Feland " returned to Eniwetok 17 July 1944 with troops for the assault on Guam , where she landed them 22 July , one day after the initial landings . Again she sailed back to the Hawaiians with casualties , and to begin training for the liberation of the Philippines . Manus was her jumping off point for this operation , and she arrived in Leyte Gulf 20 October to unload in the transport area off Dulag and retire next day , before the outbreak of the Battle of Leyte Gulf . Invasion of the Philippines . After one voyage to bring elements of the 188th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division from New Guinea to Leyte , " Feland " embarked soldiers at Aitape , from which she sailed 28 December 1944 in the San Fabian attack force . In the initial assault in Lingayen Gulf 9 January 1945 she landed troops and cargo in record time , despite heavy mortar fire from shore which wounded two of her men handling landing craft . She cleared the beachhead next day , and that evening fired on a Japanese suicide plane which veered away , selecting another target . After calling at Leyte and Ulithi , she sailed to Guam to take aboard Marines for the Iwo Jima operation . Invasion of Iwo Jima . Arriving off Iwo Jima 19 February 1945 , " Feland ' s " troops were held in reserve until 27 February , when they were landed through heavy surf on a difficult beach . She carried casualties to Guam , then sailed for Manus and Noumea to load soldiers for transportation to Leyte . Between 28 May and 16 July , she carried military passengers between ports in New Guinea and the Philippines , then sailed for a U . S . West Coast overhaul . This was completed in October . Decommission . After one further voyage to the Philippines with cargo , " Feland " returned to Seattle , Washington , 20 November and was decommissioned there on 15 March 1946 . Subsequently she was transferred to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet . She was scrapped in 1964 . Awards . " Feland " received five battle stars for World War II service :