Lejeune (AP 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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U.S.S. LEJEUNE (AP-74) Before World War II, the LEJEUNE was S. S. WINDHUK, a luxury liner of the Deutsche-Afrlka Linlen. At the outbreak of hostilities the German government converted her into a sea raider to prey upon Allied shipping in the South Atlantic. Still later she served as supply ship for the GRAF SPEE, the swift and dangerous German pocket battleship. In December of 1939, when the British Navy finally caught up with the GRAF SPEE, the WINDHUK fled to Brazil and was interned by that government. Her crew ottempted to immobilize the ship by pouring cement into her turbines and by smashing important machinery. The United States, after her entry into the war, purchased the ship from the Brazilian government for on undisclosed sum, and in February of 1943, dispatched S.S. SEMINOLE to Rio De Janeiro with a diesel engine and other essential equipment, plus a crew of about 200 officers and men to bring the WINDHUK back to the United States. The trip to Norfolk took some 30 days and was mode without incident, even though at the time the submarine menace in the Caribbean area was great. Arriving in Norfolk on the 22nd day of May, 1943, the ship was converted into a troop transport and on the 15th of April, 1944, the ship was commissioned U.S.S. LEJEUNE (AP-74) in honor of Major General John A. Lejeune, Commondont of the Marine Corps from June, 1920 to October, 1929. General Lejeune became famous in France during World War I, when he was the only Marine officer to hold on Army divisional command. The LEJEUNE ' S first wartime voyage as a U.S. Naval Transport was to Glasgow, Scotland. Here a perplexed group of German prisoners of war were embarked for transportation back to the States and intern- ment. Having been completely instilled with the supposed invincibility of the German Armed Forces, they must have Deen startled not only to be captured, but also to be shipped to a POW camp in a former German luxury liner possessing a wartime reputation in conjunction with the GRAF SPEE. Everywhere they looked tell-tale machinery labels, hard- ware, fittings, and the general ship construction must have belied their belief that the Allies had been virtually swept off the seas by the Germon submarines. Doubt of their invincibility must hove unmercifully assailed them. Other groups of Nazi prisoners later received the some shock treatment. During the war the LEJEUNE, operating as a naval troop transport, made 14 voyages, involving eight different ports in the European Theater of Operations; Glasgow, Gourock, Southampton, Plymouth, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Marseilles, and Oran. She transported a total of 73,905 passengers, principally U. S. Army, but also including Navy personnel. United Nations military personnel, prisoners of war, and civilians connected with the wor effort. The LEJEUNE served as a troop transport from April, 1944 until May, 1 946, when the ship was converted to carry cabin class passengers, including women and children. However, the ship remains essentially a troop transport. In the past she carried up to 4,500 troops, but as a dependent transport, the figure has diminished to about 2,700 troops in addition to 350 crew and 230 cabin passengers. As a dependent carrier the LEJEUNE was o familiar figure in the ports of the Far East. From August, 1946 to October, 1947, the ship steamed 76,925 miles. The comparatively long and varied career of the LEJEUNE come to a close when orders were received to report in October, 1947 to the Commander Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington for inactivotion. Since refitting as a dependent transport, the LEJEUNE has performed her tasks faithfully and efficiently, and there ore many of us who will be sad to see the commission pennant hauled down in such o fine ship. May her next commission be as successful!

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U.S.S. Lejeune (AP-74)

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Captain D. S. EVANS, U. S. Navy, Commanding Officer nander J. P. CONWAY, U. S. Navy, Executive Officer