USS Harris ( APA - 2 ) USS " Harris " ( APA - 2 ) was a that served with the U . S . Navy during World War II . She was the lead ship in her class . Commercial service . " Harris " was built in 1921 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , at Sparrows Point , Maryland . She served as a passenger ship , " Pine Tree State " , and was renamed " President Grant " in 1922 . She operated to the Orient for American Orient Lines , later American Mail Lines , and was one of America ' s fastest and best $ 3 liners until the introduction of newer ships in the thirties . " President Grant " was idled by the 1936 - 37 Maritime strike , and lay at Seattle until being taken over by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 17 July 1940 . World War II . Converted to a troopship ( hull ID no . AP - 8 ) at Todd ' s Seattle yard , she was renamed " Harris " and commissioned 19 August 1940 , Lt . A . M . Van Eaton in command . " Harris " spent the first few months of her commissioned service carrying troops to Pearl Harbor and acting as a troop training ship at San Diego . She sailed 13 April 1942 for the South Pacific , carrying Marines to occupy strategic points outside the Japanese perimeter of conquest . Her task group arrived Wallis Island 31 May 1942 and unloaded troops for the defense of the New Caledonia area . " Harris " then returned to the United States and operated out of Monterey Bay , California , in amphibious training . This vital work was completed 22 August 1942 , and she sailed from San Diego for Norfolk , Virginia . North African landings . After suffering collision damage which necessitated her drydocking until 14 October , " Harris " loaded troops at Norfolk to begin training for landings in North Africa . She departed 23 October with the Southern Attack Force , and acted as flagship for the transport force . This invasion , skillfully executed , increased the pressure on Axis forces in Africa , and prepared a springboard for invasion of Southern Europe . " Harris " arrived offshore early on 8 November 1942 and after the destroyers " Bernadou " and " Cole " boldly entered the harbor with raider forces , debarked her Army troops to consolidate the landing . One of the first transports to complete disembarkation , " Harris " returned to Norfolk 13 November . Invasion of Aleutians . She got underway 5 December with combat troops for the Pacific , arriving San Diego 17 December . There she trained and was redesignated APA - 21 before sailing from San Francisco for Alaska 24 April 1943 to take part in the recapture of Attu . " Harris " arrived Cold Harbor 30 April and 4 days later shaped course for the barren Aleutian Islands . She skillfully debarked her troops during the assault 11 May . She remained in the Adak - Dutch Harbor area until 10 June 1943 , when she returned to San Diego . After training off California , " Harris " and other ships of the Northern Pacific Force sailed 29 July for the occupation of another Aleutian Island , Kiska . Landings were made without opposition 15 August , as the Japanese had evacuated under cover of fog . " Harris " completed her unloading by 21 August and returned to San Francisco 31 August . Pacific Theatre . Invasion of Tarawa . As United States power mounted in the Western Pacific " Harris " sailed 8 September for New Zealand via Nouméa . Arriving Wellington , New Zealand on 30 September , she loaded Marines and trained out of Wellington and Efate , New Hebrides , until 13 November 1943 . " Harris " then sailed with the Southern Attack Force for the invasion of Tarawa , Gilbert Islands , as the Navy began its resistless push across Micronesia to Japan . " Harris " arrived the day after the initial landings on 20 November . Despite fire from shore batteries she discharged her troops and cargo during the days that followed . She remained off the stubbornly defended island caring for casualties and unloading until 2 December , when she sailed for Pearl Harbor . Invasion of Kwajalein . Arriving Pearl Harbor 14 December 1943 , " Harris " took part in amphibious drills for the next step toward Japan , the invasion of the Marshalls . She sailed 22 January 1944 and arrived off Kwajalein 31 January . After a week of bloody fighting in this highly successful assault troops and casualties were reembarked on board " Harris " 8 February and arrived Pearl Harbor 15 February . Invasion of Saipan . " Harris " sailed to San Pedro for needed repairs , and returned to Pearl Harbor 9 May 1944 . She immediately began loading troops and equipment for another important Pacific operation , the invasion of the Marianas . She arrived off Saipan 16 June , one day after the initial landings , and remained in the transport area until 20 June . With the Marianas won , and Japanese air power dealt a crippling blow in the Battle of the Philippine Sea , " Harris " sailed for Eniwetok , arriving 24 June . Invasion of Palau Islands . The veteran transport returned to the Hawaiian Islands and the Solomons 21 July to 8 September , in order to prepare for the next assault . She then sailed from Guadalcanal for the invasion of the Palaus , wanted as staging bases for later air attacks . " Harris " conducted a diversionary landing 15 September on Babelthuap while the main forces stormed Peleliu , and after standing ready with her reserve troops for several days , sailed for Ulithi . Arriving 23 September , " Harris " put her troops ashore to occupy this atoll , ideal for a fleet anchorage , and departed 2 days later for Manus . Invasion of the Philippines . The invasion of the Philippines followed . " Harris " embarked elements of the 1st Cavalry Division and sailed for Leyte Gulf 12 October . After having to leave the formation temporarily to free her paravane from a dangerous live mine , " Harris " regained position and unloaded her troops and cargo , 20 October . Following the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf , " Harris " took on board survivors of the gallant fight off Samar between heavy Japanese forces and light U . S . carriers and destroyer s . She departed 28 October , arriving Guam 3 days later , and returned to Leyte Gulf with reinforcements . " Harris " then sailed for Guadalcanal and Bougainville for additional troops and spent December 1944 in landing exercises in Huan Gulf . " Harris " departed Manus 31 December to rendezvous with the assault forces steaming toward Lingayen Gulf . The convoys encountered some of the heaviest air attacks of the war en route , and " Harris " ' s gunner were busy , especially 8 to 9 January 1945 , the days immediately preceding the assault . She debarked her troops under heavy smoke screen , and departed for Leyte Gulf . Here she embarked more landing forces that she soon landed at La Paz without opposition as the invasion of Luzon gathered momentum . She returned to Leyte Gulf 1 February . Invasion of Okinawa . Loading again , " Harris " prepared to take part in the final step in the steady drive to victory , the invasion of Okinawa . She sailed 27 March and arrived offshore for the initial landings 1 April , a member of Rear Admiral Hall ' s Southern Attack Force . Fierce enemy suicide attacks soon developed , and again " Harris " ' s gunners fought off numerous attacks as ships around her were hit . She completed her unloading under these hazardous conditions by 3 April and departed for Pearl Harbor 6 April . " Harris " continued to San Francisco , arriving 30 April , but soon returned to the fighting , bringing fresh troops to Okinawa 28 May . After another round trip from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa , the ship arrived Ulithi 10 August , having narrowly missed the great August typhoon . After hostilities . Assigned to assist in carrying occupation troops to Japan , " Harris " sailed to the Philippines 17 August , and arrived Tokyo Bay 8 September . After disembarking her troops " Harris " made another voyage to Samar for occupation troops , finally departing Japan 12 October . The ship made its final occupation voyage to Taku Bar , China helping to stabilize the volatile situation there , and sailed 16 November for Guam and the West Coast . Decommission . " Harris " transited the Panama Canal , arrived Boston 2 February 1946 and decommissioned 16 April . She was sold to American Ship Breakers , Inc . , 20 July 1948 and scrapped . Awards . " Harris " received ten battle stars for World War II service .