Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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f, 1 .4 f I s 1 Sunsef-silhoueffed ships ' Heading for Okinawa Chamorro mother, Saipan Okinawa bound Desfinaiion, Okinawa

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THE LOG - Continued .The convoy, known as TransDiv 60, pulled into port at Okinawa Shima on 24 July, I945, the LANIER anchoring in Machinato Bay. By evening the LANIER had debarked all its Army personnel. The next day Navy passengers were discharged and the unloading of cargo began. Call to battle stations was sounded several times a day land nightl for the dura- tion of the stay at Okinawa. By 28 July all cargo had been unloaded. On 3I July the ship shifted anchorage to Berth H-I44, Ha- gushi anchorage. Reports of a typhoon heading toward Okinawa forced the ships in the harbor to put out to sea to ride out the storm. Task Unit 95.5.2I2 was formed comprising the LANIER, HARRIS, HYDE, ELKHART, MERI- WETHER, MELLETTE, OKANOGAN, WINDSOR, OCONTO, NAVARRO and escorts. The group left Okinawa on I August. Two days later the unit returned to Okinawa. The LANIER, on 5 August, commenced embarking passengers: Army, 78 officers, 570 enlisted men, Marine Corps, 4 officers, I46 men. Many of the Army group were members of the famous New York Fighting 69th and were high- point men who had served more than 3 years overseas without seeing the Golden Gate. On 6 August, Convoy OKU No. I7, TransDiv 60 got underway for Ulithi, including the fol- lowing ships: GRIMES IO. T. C.l, KITTSON, BRAXTON, FLORENCE NIOI-ITINOALE, wAu- KESI-IA, SAMUEL CHASE, WARREN, SEMI- NOLE, HEYWOOD, ROCKBRIDGE, OKANO- GAN, ENOREE, SARANAC, SEA DEVIL, PARK VICTORY, DOUGLAS VICTORY, ESCANABA, ELKI-IART, NAVARRO, MERIwETI-IER, OCON- TO, TOLOVANA, ACONAGUE, ANACOS- TIA, WINDSOR, PRESIDENT POLK, CEPHEUS, LANIER and OZARK, as well as the escorts DEwEY, MacDONOUGH, CAVALLERO, PRES- LEY, RAYMOND, DALE, FARRAGUT, SILVER- STEIN, HILARY P. JONES, CROSS and LEWIS.

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THE LOG - Continued Gunnery practice was held on the morning of lO August, with the convoy arriving at Ulithi that afternoon. The ship refueled and prepared to continue its trip. lt was on the lOth of August that the first definite rumor of peace reached the LANIER. Many rumors had circulated throughout the Pacific before, but this time the air was filled with a more promising atmosphere. The rumors took on more and more significance as time went on. All hands hoped and prayed for peace. They also wondered iust how peace, if it came suddenly, would affect the travels of the good ship LANIER. Coniecture aboard ship was divided into two generalized schools of thought. One group contended our load of States-bound personnel would stay aboard and we'd continue as planned, taking them back to San Francisco. The others insisted our chances were good we'd be diverted, would go to Saipan or Guam, get rid of our Army personnel, pick up combat troops and head for Japan. How right the latter group was! College building, Naha Keeping station Convoy, in column, leaves Okinawa Okinawa I l fr A - irev AMAQ ss- -'-If fcjfm g kg. .,i3 giiQ..-