New Kent (APA 217) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Lt. G. W. Miller, USNR, Executive Otti cer, 21 Iune, 1945, to 4 Oct., 1945. LT. COMDR. E. N. HOFFMAN 4 Oct., 1945, to Dcxte

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THE SHTPPEHS 1 I CAPTAIN FRANK MONROE, IR., USN COMMANDER I. E. BAKER, USNR 22 Nov., 1944, to 15 Tune, 1945 15 Tune to 26 Nov., 1945 ' CAPTAIN C. F. SWANSON, USN 26 Nokr., 1945, to Date

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THE U. S. S. NEW KENT CAPA-2175 D4 .Slow Mdfory The U.S.S. NEW KENT CAPA-2171, a VC2S-APS type I-lull CMaritime Commission I-lull Number V- 565l was built for the U.S. Maritime Commission by the Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, Calif. The keel was laid on ll Iuly, 1944, and the ship was launched on 12 October, 1944. The ship was turned over by the builder to the Maritime Commission on 21 November, 1944, and was commissioned at the Parr-Richmond Ter- minal Number Three, Richmond, California, on 22 November, 1944, when Captain C. G. McCord, U.S.N. CRetl, representing the Commandant Twelfth Naval District, delivered the ship to Cap- tain Frank Monroe, Ir., U.S. Navy, the Command- ing Officer. The ship's company had been assem- bled at the Pre-Commissioning Training Center, Treasure Island, California. The Beach Party and Boat Group had been independently assembled and trained at the Beach Battalion School, Am- phibious 'Training Base, Oceanside, California, and Amphibious Training Base, Coronado, Cali- fornia, respectively. These two units joined the ship shortly after commissioning. The following were the senior officers at the time of commissioning: Commanding Officer - Captain Frank Monroe, Ir., USN-Coronado, Cali- fornia. Executive Officer-Lieutenant Commander Iames E. S. Baker CDD, USNR, Wilmette, Illinois. Engineering Officer-Lieutenant Commander Iohn C. Preston, CEMD, USNR, San Francisco, Cali- fornia. Senior Medical Officer-Lieutenant Commander William I. Schwab, CMCD, USNR, Providence, Rhode Island. Boat Group Commander-Lieutenant Robert L. Nipper, CDDL, USNR-Indianapolis, Indiana. Beachmaster-Lieutenant Frederic R. Pierce, CDJL, USNR-Sacramento, Calif. , Gunnery Officer-Lieutenant Richard L. Howell, CDD, USNR-Lynchburg, Virginia. Communication Officer-Lieutenant Spencer I-I. Bridge, CCD, USNR-Forrest City, Iowa. Navigator-Lieutenant Edward N. Hoffman, CDD, USNR-Long Island, New York. Chaplain-Lieutenant Ioseph S. Rice, CChCD, USNR-Richmond, Virginia. First Lieutenant-Lieutenant Cjgl Monroe D. Sel- igman, CDD, USNR-Brooklyn, New York. Supply Officer-Lieutenant Owen S. Davies, CSCI, USN,-San Leandro, Calif. Transport Quartermaster - Second Lieutenant Allie E. Cornwell, USMCR-Austin, Texas. The NEW KENT outfitted at Naval Supply De- pot, Oakland, California, and then had several days restricted availability at Naval Drydocks, 1-Iunter's Point, California, at which time many al- terations were accomplished. The ship remained in the San Francisco Bay Area completing loading and calibrating equipment until 8 December, 1944, when she sailed ,to San Pedro where she report- ed to Commander, San Pedro Shakedown Group, Fleet Operational Training Command Pacific for a two weeks shakedown period in the San' Pedro Area. On completion of this training the ship sailed to San Diego where she reported to Com- mander Amphibious Training Command. Pacific on 24 December, 1944. The ship then engaged in two ,weeks amphibious training in the vicinity of Coronado and Oceanside, California, at the con- clusion of which the ship was given a seven day period of availability at the U.S. Naval Repair Base, San Diego, California. On 20 January, 1945, the NEW KENT, escorted by the U.S.S. TI-IADDEUS C. PARKER CDE-3691, and carryingithe Ianuary replacements for the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and miscellaneous cargo destined for Majuro and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, sailed for Pearl Harbor, T.1-I., arriving 26 Ianuary. On 30 Ianuary the ship sailed for Ma- juro escorted by the PC 825. En route, on the first