USS President Monroe ( AP - 104 ) USS " President Monroe " ( AP - 104 ) was a President Jackson - class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II . " President Monroe " was the sixth of seven C3 - P & C type vessels built for American President Lines around - the - world service just prior to the outbreak of World War II . She was laid down 13 November 1939 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News , Virginia and launched 7 August 1940 . World War II . The new SS " President Monroe " was just clearing San Francisco Bay on her maiden voyage around the world when word was flashed to her Master to return , as Japan had just attacked Pearl Harbor . She and her six sisterships were immediately acquired by War Shipping Administration on bareboat charter for outfitting for war service . SS " President Monroe " departed San Francisco 12 January 1942 destined for Suva in the Australian — Suva convoy with two other troopships , the SS " President Coolidge " and the SS " Mariposa " , which were destined for Australia , accompanied by two destroyers and the light cruiser . This was the first large convoy to Australia and the south Pacific after Pearl Harbor with " Mariposa " and " Coolidge " transporting Army personnel ammunition and fifty P - 40 fighters intended for the Philippines and Java . " Monroe " landed 660 troops , an air warning company and a pursuit squadron at Suva on 29 January 1942 . Transferred to the Navy 18 July 1943 , " President Monroe " shifted to Pool , McGonigle & Jennings Company yard of Portland , Oregon for alterations . Commissioned 20 August as the USS " President Monroe " ( AP - 194 ) , Capt . G . C . Morrison in command , she departed Portland 24 August for the Bremerton Navy Yard for conversion and outfitting . After brief shakedown , she commenced her first " pay " run 9 September on the Aleutian Service . Carrying replacement troops and cargo , she steamed for Kodiak , Dutch Harbor , and Adak , Alaska . She also embarked assault troops at Kiska and transported them to Pearl Harbor , and then returned to San Francisco to be outfitted with landing craft . Gilbert Islands invasion . Departing the west coast 3 November , " President Monroe " joined forces that were marshaling at Pearl Harbor for the first move of the Central Pacific Drivethe Gilbert Islands invasion . She arrived Abemama Atoll on the morning of the 27th bringing the atoll ' s garrison group cargo and personnel . She touched at Tarawa before sailing for Pearl Harbor with battleship and transport . Marshall Islands operations . She remained at Pearl Harbor until 23 January 1944 , when she embarked a contingent of marines and steamed for Kwajalein Atoll . She next transported assault troops to Eniwetok , participating through 25 February in the successful landings on Engebi , Eniwetok , and Parry . Departing Roi - Namur , Kwajalein Atoll 29 February , she called at Funafuti , Ellice Islands , and then was routed to Guadalcanal . Invasion of Guam . Following a cruise to Milne Bay , Manus Island and New Caledonia , the transport engaged in logistics and practice landings for the assault on Guam . Between 21 and 26 July , she discharged troops and cargo off Guam , then steamed for Eniwetok to embark wounded before proceeding to San Pedro , California , arriving 22 August 1944 . By 4 November , she once again stood out from San Diego and ended the year operating between Guadalcanal , New Caledonia , and Port Purvis . She joined the well - screened Task Group 77 . 9 en route Lingayen Gulf 2 January 1945 , and unloaded troops and cargo in the San Fabian area between 11 and 13 January . Propulsion problems necessitated repairs at Leyte , after which she steamed in convoy for $ 3 , New Guinea , thence to Ulithi . There she was designated flagship for Transport Division " D " of Task Unit 12 . 6 . 1 and steamed for Iwo Jima , arriving 18 March . Embarking troops there , she steamed for Hawaii , en route to San Francisco . After hostilities . Through the end of 1945 she made several runs to Pacific Island bases . With the end of hostilities , she extended her cruises to Japan and participated in Operation Magic Carpet , the giant sealift organized to bring demobilizing servicemen home . Decommission . " President Monroe " entered Hunters Point Naval Drydock 12 January 1946 , decommissioned , and was delivered to WSA 30 January , returned to American President Lines 21 February , and stricken from the Navy List 12 March . Commercial service . Following decommission , " President Monroe " was returned to American President Lines for commercial service on 21 February 1947 . She was sold in 1965 to the Greek Shipping Company , reflagged , and renamed SS " Marianna V " . She was scrapped in 1973 . Awards . " President Monroe " received five battle star s for World War II service .