USS Haskell ( APA - 117 ) The USS " Haskell " ( APA - 117 ) was the lead ship of her class of attack transport s , built for the United States Navy during World War II . She was of the VC2 - S - AP5 Victory ship design type . " Haskell " was named for the Haskell Counties of Kansas , Oklahoma , and Texas . World War II service . " Haskell " was launched 13 June 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp . , Wilmington , California , under Maritime Commission contract ; sponsored by Mrs . W . L . Friedell , wife of the Commandant of the 11th Naval District ; and commissioned 11 September 1944 , Comdr . A . L . Mare in command . Following her shakedown cruise , " Haskell " arrived San Francisco 19 October and began loading troops and supplies destined for the Pacific . Underway 28 October , she set course for Finschafen , New Guinea , and arrived 15 November 1944 . Four days later the transport anchored at Biak Island to unload her troops , who were to take part in the developing New Guinea offensive . " Haskell " sailed via Mios Woendi to Noemfoor Island , 23 November - 2 December , where preparations were underway for the important landings at Lingayen Gulf , Philippines . At staging areas throughout the western Pacific ships such as " Haskell " loaded troops and made practice landings prior to the actual assault . After exercises at Japen Island , " Haskell " departed in convoy for the Philippines 4 January 1945 . A part of Rear Admiral Conolly ' s reinforcement echelon , " Haskell " and the other transports arrived off Lingayen Gulf 11 January 2 days after the initial landings . Haskell ' s group escaped attack while sailing the treacherous route through the Philippines . After unloading her troops and cargo , " Haskell " departed the next day , but not before her gunners had shot down their first enemy aircraft during an air raid on the 11th . The transport sailed to Leyte Gulf 15 January 1945 , loaded troops , and took part in a practice landing at Tacloban , Leyte . The ship departed with Rear Admiral Struble ' s amphibious group 26 January for the Zambales landing north of Subic Bay , Luzon . This unopposed landing was carried out 3 days later and helped to cut off the Bataan Peninsula and hasten the fall of Manila . " Haskell " returned to Leyte Gulf 1 February 1945 . With control of the Philippines secured , " Haskell " was next assigned to the giant Okinawa operation . She completed loading troops and supplies at Leyte 13 March 1945 and after amphibious exercises sailed 27 March for Okinawa . This massive invasion , climax of the Pacific island - hopping campaign , began 1 April . Haskell was a member of Rear Admiral Hall ' s Southern Attack Force , and debarked units of the 7th Division with their equipment during the first waves of the assault . During the first days of the bitter struggle she also served as an emergency hospital ship and cared for many casualties at her off shore anchorage . After unloading her troops and cargo , the transport sailed 6 April for Saipan , Marianas , thus escaping the heavy Japanese air counterattacks so valiantly endured by the ships remaining at Okinawa . Stopping at Saipan only briefly , " Haskell " steamed independently via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco , where she arrived 1 May . The ship underwent needed repairs and embarked Navy and Coast Guard personnel for the Pacific and sailed the 23d for Noumea . Arriving 9 June 1945 , the ship began a series of transport voyages to various ports in the Pacific , providing men and cargo at Guadalcanal , Eniwetok , and Guam . She arrived Apra Harbor , Guam , 1 July and embarked 83 Japanese prisoners of war for transfer to Pearl Harbor , where she arrived 15 July . From Pearl Harbor " Haskell " sailed to San Francisco 22 July and Seattle 12 August . While " Haskell " loaded at Seattle the war ended , and she assumed a new role , that of bringing occupation troops to the Pacific and transporting returnees to the United States . She sailed 20 August for Okinawa and after stops at Eniwetok and Ulithi arrived 11 September and unloaded her troops . Soon afterward , 16 September , the ship was forced to put to sea to ride out the giant typhoon which swept the area and after 2 days of grueling heavy weather returned to Okinawa . " Haskell " " s role was as a transport for over 1 , 400 allied prisoners of war released from enemy prison camps . These wasted veterans were offloaded at Manila 25 September , and the ship sailed for the United States 1 October , with 1 , 800 members of the " Eastern Air Forces " [ possibly the Far Eastern or 5th Air Force - ed ] . After a stop at Eniwetok , Haskell arrived San Francisco 19 October 1945 . As a unit of the " Magic - Carpet " fleet " Haskell " made two more voyages to the Far East during the gigantic task of returning American servicemen to their homes . These passages , to Okinawa and Japan , terminated with " Haskell " ' s arrival at Seattle , Wash . , 2 February 1946 . Designated for return to the Maritime Commission , the ship sailed to Norfolk , Virginia , via the Panama Canal , and arrived 21 March 1946 . " Haskell " decommissioned 22 May 1946 and was returned 2 days later and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at James River , Virginia . Fate . Ex - " Haskell " was removed from the Reserve Fleet in 1956 for a Repair Program , GAA - Moore McCormick Lines . Upon her return from the Repair Program she was berthed at Wilmington , North Carolina , On 1 March 1965 when she transferred back to James River , Virginia . On 26 June 1973 , she was sold to Alberti Equipment , Incorporated , for US $ 124 , 630 , for scrapping . At 1040 EDT , on 30 July 1973 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker ' s yard . All that remains of " Haskell " is her brass builder ' s plate . Awards . " Haskell " received two battle stars for World War II service .