USS Okaloosa ( APA - 219 ) USS " Okaloosa " ( APA - 219 ) was a that saw service with the US Navy in World War II . " Okaloosa " was named after an Okaloosa County , Florida . She was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract ( MCV Hull 567 ) on 8 August 1944 by Permanente Metals Corporation of Richmond , California ; launched 22 October 1944 ; acquired by the Navy on a loan charter basis 28 November 1944 ; and commissioned the same day , Capt . R . E . Jasperson in command . Operational history . World War II . Following commissioning and fitting out , " Okaloosa " departed Seattle with troops 26 January 1945 for Honolulu , then operated out of Pearl Harbor until sailing 29 March with Army units for Eniwetok , Ulithi , and Okinawa . Invasion of Okinawa . She arrived off Okinawa 26 April and offloaded troops without incident during the next four days , despite frequent enemy air attacks . The transport then returned to the West Coast , arriving San Francisco 22 May . Her stay was short , however , and she embarked troops and cargo immediately , leaving 30 May for Manila and Leyte , Philippines . Except for a brief voyage to New Guinea in early July , " Okaloosa " shuttled troops and cargo among the Philippine Islands until departing Manila Bay 7 September for Tokyo Bay with occupation units . After hostilities . From Tokyo Bay , " Okaloosa " sailed , in turn , to Guam ; Tsingtao , China ; Manila ; and Haiphong , French Indo - China ; where she loaded elements of the Chinese 52nd Army bound for the Gulf of Pohai , China . Operation Magic Carpet . Assigned to Operation Magic Carpet on 16 November , " Okaloosa " sailed to Jinsen , Korea , took on her full capacity of returning troops , and sailed 30 November for Tacoma , Washington , arriving 17 December . Four days later , she entered Puget Sound Navy Yard for overhaul . She sailed 11 January 1946 via the Panama Canal for Norfolk , Virginia , arriving on the last day of the month . Also , on the 14th , she came under full ownership of the Navy . Peacetime cruises . For the next few years , " Okaloosa " operated out of Norfolk , many times with Marines from nearby bases . Three times , in June and July 1947 and June 1948 , she conducted cruises for large numbers of east coast reservist s , sailing to Bermuda on the last two . In addition , amphibious exercises took her to Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands on a number of month - long cruises and several shorter ones . Decommission . On 15 April 1949 , " Okaloosa " sailed from Norfolk for Orange , Texas , and deactivation . After overhaul , she decommissioned on 21 July and entered the Texas Group , Atlantic Reserve Fleet . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1958 and transferred to the Maritime Administration 23 September . In 1970 , she was still berthed at Mobile , Alabama as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet . Her final disposition is unknown . ( The Okaloosa was decommissioned in 1977 and struck from Naval records . ) When the vessel was dismantled , its relics were salvaged and Baldwin County , Alabama requested the ship ' s bell for a war memorial at its satellite courthouse in Foley . On 4 January 2012 , county officials of Okaloosa County will retrieve the bell from Foley for future display in front of the Northwest Florida Regional Airport terminal . In exchange , the U . S . Navy will present Baldwin County with the bell from the USS " Peterson " for its memorial . Okaloosa County will hold a dedication on 26 April 2012 . " The Baldwin County Commission has been extremely gracious , " said Tracy Stage , projects manager for the airport , of the transfer of the bell . " We ' re bringing it back to Okaloosa County where it belongs . I can ' t think of a better way to recognize the Navy , the Marine Corps and all the veterans . " Okaloosa County Judge T . Patterson Maney discovered the bell during a visit to Foley and has been working to bring it back to its namesake county . Decorations . " Okaloosa " received one battle star for World War II service .