New Kent (APA 217) - Naval Cruise Book

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Mrs. William I. Maher, Sponsor, Christens U.S.S, NEW KENT All the ship's office-r's, taken aboard ship 18 Got., 1945.

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,G tr T day in a convoy commanded by Commander Transport Division 35 in the U.S.S. CLAY CAPA- 39J. The convoy arrived at Ulithi on 14 August, 1945, and on the same day sailed for Leyte in an- other convoy commanded by CTD 35 in the U.S.S. CLAY KAPA-392. The ship was at sea, enroute to Leyte, when news was received of the acceptance by the Imperial Iapanese Government of the sur- render terms of the Potsdam Declaration. The NEW KENT arrived at San Pedro Bay, Ley- te Gulf on 17 August. All cargo and troops were discharged on 18 August. Pursuant to directives of Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Com- mander, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, on 23 August the ship reported by dispatch to Com- mander, Amphibious Group Eight and Command- er,' Fifth Amphibious Force and pursuant to their direction proceeded to Manila via Surigao Straight carrying Army and Navy Casuals for dis- charge at Manila and Subic Bay, arriving Manila 25 August. Upon arrival Manila, theiNEW KENT reported in person to Commander, Amphibious Group Eight and at his direction further reported to Commander Transport Division Thirty-Eight for duty in connection with the Iapanese operation. On 29 August the ship proceeded to Subic Bay to discharge passengers and returned to Manila on the same day. On 9 September the NEW KENT in company with other ships of Transport Squadron Fourteen sailed from Manila for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, P.I., stopping at Subic Bay en route and arriving at Aringay Point, Lingayen Gulf on 10 September. During the period 10 September to 16 September the ship was combat loaded with the troops and equipment of the 3rd Battalion, 136th Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division, 6th Army and attached units and engaged in rehearsal and training ex- ercises in connection with the forthcoming opera- tion. The NEW KENT, in company with the other transports of Amphibious Group Eight sailed from Lingayen on 20 September for Wakayama, Iapan, The trip was without incident and the transports arrived off Wakayama the early morning of 25 September. All troops and cargo were discharged by noon of 26 September and the NEW KENT and the other unloaded transports of Transport Squad- ron Fourteen sailed for Leyte late that afternoon, arriving Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I. on 1 October. The NEW KENT, in company with other tran- sports of Transport Squadron Fourteen, sailed from Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I., on 1 October, 1945, for Davao Gulf Mindanao, P.I., stopping at Leyte en route and arriving at Davao on 8 October. For the next week the ship was engaged in loading troops and equipment of the 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry HCT and attached units bound for Oka- yama, Iapan. On 15 October, the NEW KENT in company with other ships of Transport Squadron Fourteen, sailed for I-Iiro-wan, I-Ionshu, Iapan. The convoy transitted the Bungo Suide Straits, entered the In- land Sea, and arrived off I-Iiro-wan without inci- dent in the late afternoon of 21 October. Troops and cargo were discharged during the next two days. During the week spent at Iapan, sightsee- ing parties from the ship visited the nearby large Iapanese naval base at Kure as well as the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped at Hiro- shima. The NEW KENT together with the U.S.S SIBLEY KAPA 2061 sailed on 28 October for Manus, Admir- alty Islands, arriving at our destination on 3 No- vember, having again crossed the line and in- itiated 68 new shellbacks with appropriate cere- monies. After loading 2,000 passengers including a Coast Guard officer, a Royal New Zealand Air Force officer, and five U.S. Navy nurses, we sailed for San Pedro, California, on our first Magic Car- pet trip. En route our destinationwas changed to San. Diego, California, by dispatch, at which port the ship docked the afternoon of 19 Novem- ber. On 26 November, Commander C. F. Swanson, USN, relieved Commander I. E. Baker, USNR, as commanding officer. The NEW KENT sailed from San Diego on 5 December for Guam, Marianas Islands to make her second Magic Carpet run. Our destination was again changed to Saipan, Marianas Islands, by dispatch, at which port the ship docked the morning of 21 December. After loading 1,980 passengers, we sailed the same day for San Pedro, California, desination later changed to San Francisco, in which cruise we are presently engaged. Christmas and New Year's were celebrated on board ship with special pro- grams for all hands includingVRoman Catholic Mass, Christmas carols, Christmas gifts distributed by Santa Claus, and a turkey dinner. 12-31-45. Since the ship was commissioned and up to date of 4 Ian., 1946, the ship has been underway on 231 days and during this period steamed a to- tal of 198 days and 8 hours, or 60,867 miles.

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EMBARKATION OF TRooPs AT SEATTLE, WASH. 26 TUNE, 1945. The New Kent Variety Theatre in high gear, starring Sgt. lack Lane, Harry Storath, Tony Rae, and friends. Shown in the picture are Zislis and Arezzi at the drums, Truitt with the saxophone, and Lt. Moreno at the piano. CTaken en route Seattle to Honolulu, l Iuly l945.D