Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE LOG - Continued On 5 February the LANIER proceeded to the San Clemente Island area, where for five days, Together with the APA's AMERICAN LEGION, HUNTER LIGGETT, BROADWATER, PONDERA and CORTLAND, it participated in mock invasion. On 9 February the ship moored in a well-cluttered bay at San Pedro, where, until the 20th, it underwent repairs during its availability period. The next day the LANIER set sail for San Francisco. It was Washington's Birthday, the 22nd of February, when the LANIER loaded 335 rather sober-looking civilians, together with 80 officers and 9 enlisted men, bound for Pearl Harbor. The ship left on 23 February, 1945. A good share of the crew as well as many of the officers got their first glimpse of On the beach at Waikiki Cloud-shrouded Isle of Oahu territory outside the United States when the LANIER, after sailing alone, arrived at Pearl Harbor on 2 March. Commander Rockey, on 3 March, was de- tached for hospitalization at Pearl Harbor. Three days later, on 6 March, Captain Ben- iamin W. Cloud, USN, assumed command, reading his orders before the entire ship's company. With the SAN SABA skipper as O. T. C. lOfficer in Tactical Commandl, the LANIER, CLEBURNE, CORTLAND AND CRENSHAW got underway on 17 March for Maui, Territory of Hawaii, to conduct practice amphibious operations. Five days were spent in T-3 and T-4 exercises, including laying of smoke screen and streaming of paravanes. Embarking at Oahu Oahu ff 7:4 f . 5 'X 5 K

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Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Hubert W. Fisher, first executive officer, and Commander and Mrs. Walter W. Rockey, first skipper of The LANIER shiny MMEDIATELY after commissioning ceremo- nies, the LANIER proceeded tothe Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, where everything from potatoes to light bulbs, enough supplies to last for weeks, were taken aboard. A three-day delay at the request of the Central Commissioning Detail, West Coast, was effected beginning 28 December, due to faulty engine room valves. After this brief overhaul at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, San Francisco, the ship moved out to anchor almost beneath the 7-mile-long Oakland Bay Bridge. At this time the ship's allowance of 26 assault boats was taken aboard, and preparations were made for shakedown training. The new year of i945 was inaugurated for the LANIER by its participation in a month s period of withstanding trials and tribulations such as only a shakedown detail can sponsor Boats were lowered and hoisted booms rigged, winches operated, compasses com- pensated, radar gear tested, paravanes streamed, speed trials run, turning circle es- tablished, as well as drills conducted for abandon ship, fire, fire and rescue, general quarters, signals and collision. Simple tactical maneuvers were conducted, accompanied by the APA's AUDUBON, CORT- LAND and BRAXTON, from 18 to 20 January. Four days later a personnel and material in- spection was held by the San Pedro Shake- down Group. Later, word was receivedthat our ship was quite satisfactory. Anchored off the Coronado Strand, San Diego, from l February through 4 February, the LANIER S boats and personnel were exer cised in the rough surf Numerous T 3 and T 4 practice landings were made debarka tion and net handling drills conducted and communications procedure was tested A gate to heaven . . , U ll I I C 0 , . . - . I I I I I C 'I . ' T I ' I 9 O O . . V . . , I ' .

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Beach' party over the side, Maui THE LOG - Continued On 22 March the LANIER returned to Pearl Harbor and the following day moved to Honolulu, where cargo was taken aboard. Four days later the ship went back to Pearl Harbor- and embarking of troops was begun. Seventy officers and 1,415 enlisted men Lservice troops, half negro, half whitel of the U. S. Army boarded for transportation to a forward area. Captain Jesse B. Gay, USN lRet.1, aboard the Dutch merchant vessel, the BLOEMFON- TEIN, led a convoy of 17 ships on 29 March for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. The ships were: AUDUBON, COTTLE, OSKALOOSA, BLOEMFONTEIN, ORMSBY, BROADWATER, BRULE, EXCHANGE, SEAMARLIN, MERMAC- PORT, MORMACKWREN, DORTHEA L. DIX, DAUPHIN, BINGHAM, BERGER, PONDERA and LANIER. Designated as Task Unit 16.8.19, the convoy was accompanied by three de- stroyer escorts. L Cleaning the 5-inch Passing the 180th Meridian on 3 April, the convoy arrived at Eniwetok on 6 April. After refueling and a conference, Task Unit 91.6.12 was formed, comprising the trans- ports BINGHAM LO. T. C.1 and LANIER, with the STEELE as destroyer escort. This group sailed from Eniwetok on 7 April, for Saipan, in the Marianas, arriving on the 10th. Colors and iacks of several hundred ships at anchor at Saipan were lowered to half mast simultaneously as official news was re- ceived on 14 April of the death of the Presi- dent of the United States, Franklin D. Roose- velt. To thousands aboard ships scattered throughout Pacific Ocean areas, the news ei ,4 T M, A Battle of Maui of -the Presi'dent's death was received with amazement, mixed with genuine concern for the Nation's future and sorrow for the mil- lions who were numbered as mourners. On the following day, 15 April, a ioint Army-Navy Memorial service was held aboard the LANIER, conducted by Captain Cloud, assisted by Col. J. C. Wilson, troop commander, and Chaplain L. V. Pick. Every man aboard came topside to pay respects to thelate President of the United States. During the seven-day stay at Saipan, lib- erty was granted for both troops and crew at the huge Saipan recreation area The men played softball went swimming in the crystal 1 if. 3: . 1 I if s ly? 7 . . ' X 1 , - .-