(Taken from the Souvenir History of the U.S.S. LST 794, which was issued to the ship's crew when they were disbanded in January, 1946) Ship built at Neville Island Shipyard, Coraopolis, Pa., by Dravo Corporation. Dates of laying of keel and of launching do not appear in the record. U.S.S. LST 794 was placed in reduced commission at shipyard where built on 5 October, 1944. Lieut. F. E. Ragland, USN., assumed temporary command, and with ferry crew and combat crew aboard, ship got underway for passage down river to New Orleans, La. From this point onward significant incident in the history of the ship is noted chronologically:

15 October,   1944 -- Arrived at Naval Repair Base, New Orleans, La. and repairs  commenced.

0950, 16 October,
    1944                  -- Ship placed in full commission in short ceremony conducted on board by the representative of the Commandant, 8th Naval District. Commissioning party consisted of Lt. Comdr. J. Wildman, USN., Chaplain and band. Lieut. W. C. Cain, USCGR, assumed command.

18 October,    1944 --  Ship depermed, and degaussing equipment calibrated. Ship went into dry-dock at Todd-Johnson Co. Shipyard for change of propellers. Left dry-dock same day.

19 October,    1944 -- Moored at dock, Todd-Johnson Co. Shipyard, undergoing alteration.

22 October,    1944 -- Left shipyard. Took on stores and provisions at Naval Supply Depot. Took on ammunition at Naval Ammunition Depot.

24 October,   1944  -- Left New Orleans, enroute to St. Andrew Bay, Fla., for shakedown exercises. Test firing of guns conducted enroute.

25 October,    1944 -- Arrived St. Andrew Bay, Fla., and reported to Officer-in-Charge, LST Shakedown.

26 0ctober,     1944 -- Arrival Inspection of ship and personnel conducted by Captain W.W. Weeden, Jr., USN. Started shakedown exercises in the afternoon; exercises continued daily thereafter.

3  November,   l944 -- Inspection of ship in all departments by representative of U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Amphibious Training Command. Inspection party led by Lt. Comdr. Roberts, USN.

7  November,   l944 -- Annual Military Inspection of ship by Commander E. A. York, USN, and staff. Departed St. Andrew Bay, enroute to New Orleans, La.

9  November,   l944 -- Arrived Pendleton Shipyard, New Orleans, La., for overseas loading and final alterations. Ensign C. R. Hamborg,Jr., USNR, and 11 enlisted men, reported aboard for duty and passage as crew of LCT.

11 November, 1944 -- LCT 1392 deck-loaded on ship for transportation overseas. Loading accomplished at Florida Ave. Wharf, Industrial Canal.

15 November, 1944 -- Departed New Orleans, La., enroute to Gulfport Miss,, carrying Naval personnel as passengers for the Canal Zone.
 

16 November, 1944 -- Arrived Gulfport, Miss., loaded heavy equipment for trans-portation to Pearl Harbor, T. H.

17 November, 1944 -- Departed Gulfport, Miss., enroute to Cristobal, C.Z.

23 November, 1944 -- Arrived Coco Solo Naval Base, C.Z., debarked passengers.

24 November, 1944 -- Embarked new detachment of Naval personnel as passengers for transportation to California.

25 November, 1944 -- Departed Coco Solo, in company with LST's 729 and 945. OTC in LST 729. Transited canal, enroute to San Diego, Cal.

8  December,  1944 -- Detached from company by radio dispatch from Commandant, 7th Naval District, proceeding independently to San Pedro, Calif. Arrived Terminal Island, San Pedro, and debarked passengers.

11 December, 1944 -- Departed San Pedro, Calif., enroute to Port Huoneme,Calif.

12 December, 1944 -- Arrived Port Huenome, Calif., and took on pontoon cause-ways for delivery overseas by side carry.

13 December, 1944 -- Departed Port Huenome, Calif., enroute to Pearl Harbor, T.H., without passengers or escort; proceeding independ-ently.

23 December, 1944 -- Arrived Pearl Harbor, T.H., and commenced unloading heavy equipment cargo taken aboard at Gulfport, Miss.

30 December, 1944 -- Embarked Naval enlisted personnel as passengers for Russell Islands.

1   January,    1945 -- Embarked U.S. Army personnel as passengers for Espiritu Santo. Embarked U.S. Navy C. B. personnel as passengers for Russell Islands. Took on cargo for delivery at both places.
 

2   January,    1945 -- Departed Pearl Harbor, T.H., in company with LSM 75, en-route to Espiritu Santo. OTC in LSM 75. No escort.

10  January,   1945 -- Crossed Equator. Held appropriate ceremonies.

11  January,   1945 -- Crossed International Dateline. No special ceremonies held.

16  January,   1945 -- Arrived Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, and debarked passengers and cargo.

17  January,   1945 -- Departed Espiritu Santo in company with LST 945, enroute to Banika, Russell Islands, without escort. OTC in LST 794.

20  January,   1945 -- Arrived Banika, R.I., and debarked passengers and cargo.

22 January,   1945 -- Departed Banika, R.I., enroute to Pavuvu, R.I, proceeding independently without escort, passengers or cargo.

22  January, 1945 to
23 February, 1945 -- Operated under direction of Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, transporting troops and cargo back and forth between Russell Islands and Guadalcanal.

24 February, 1945 to
28 February, 1945 -- Loaded personnel and cargo at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in preparation for forthcoming practice exercises and invasion of Okinawa.

28 February, 1945 -- Lt. Commander J. H. Harlan, USN., (ComLSTGr7) and Staff aboard for practice exercises.

1  March,    1945 -- Commenced invasion practice exercises.

4  March,    1945 -- Lt. Commander J. H. Harlan, USN., and Staff departed.

5  March,    1945 -- Lt. Commander J.H. Harman, USN., and Staff returned aboard.

7  March,    1945 -- Completed practice exercises. Disembarked troops and ve-hicles. Lt. Commander J. H. Harlan, USN., and Staff de-parted.

9  March,    1945 -- Re-embarked combat personnel and vehicles (17 LVT's) of 9th Amphibious Tractor Bn., Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

11 March,    1945 -- Re-embarked combat personnel of 1st Bn., 4th Marine Regt., 6th Marine Div. FMF, Pacific. Departed Guadalcanal, arrived Hutchinson Creek, Florida Island.

12 March,    1945 -- Departed Florida Island in convoy enroute to staging area, Ulithi Atoll. Operating as unit of 51.12.1. CTU in LC (FF) 1081.

21 March,    1945 -- Arrived Ulithi.

23 March,    1945 -- Embarked more combat personnel of 1st Bn., 4th Marine Regt., 6th Marine Div, and two U.S.C.G. Public Relations men.
25 March,    1945 -- Departed Ulithi enroute for Okinawa, in convoy, escorted.

1  April,       1945 -- Arrived Okinawa. Task Unit designation changed to 53.3.1. Launched small boats and LVT’s in assault waves. Combat personnel ashore in vehicles.

2  April,       1945 -- Launched LCT 1392 from main deck. Pontoon causeways launched from side carry. Naval personnel pertaining to LCT detached. Commenced unloading priority cargo.

6  April,       1945 -- 4 men of ship’s company slightly wooded by shell splinters
in course of general firing at enemy plane.

8  April,       1945 -- Completed unloading cargo. Remaining passengers disembarked.

11 April,      1945 -- Departed Okinawa enroute to Saipan, empty and escorted in convoy. ComLST Flotilla 6 in LC(FF) 1080 in tactical command of movement.

17 April,       1945 -- Arrived Saipan. Debarked two U.S.C.G. Public Relations men.

7  May,         1945 -- Completed loading. Departed Saipan in convoy, escorted, enroute to Okinawa. OTC COMLSTGrp 9 in LST 1O13.

10 May,        1945 -- Purple Heart medals awarded at muster to HOLMES, Marcus R., Sealc(SM) USCGR; MANGIN, F.A., Sealc, USCGR; LUCAS, A.D.,Jr. QM3c USCGR; MURPHY, C.R., SM3c USCGR, for wounds received in action against the enemy on 6 April, 1945.

14 May,        1945 -- Arrived Okinawa.

18 May,        1945 -- Completed unloading.

20 May,        1945 -- Departed Okinawa in convoy, escorted, enroute to Saipan. OTC in LST 702.

26 May,        1945 -- Arrived Saipan.

4  June,         1945 -- Detached from 5th Fleet, assigned to duty with 7th Fleet, departed from Saipan in convoy unescorted, enroute to Leyte Gulf, P.I. OTC ComLSTGrp 61 in LST 587.

 l0 June,         1945 -- Arrived Tacloban, Leyte Gulf, P.I.

12 June,         1945 -- Departed Leyte Gulf, enroute to Subic Bay, P.I., in convoy,
unescorted. OTC ComLSTGrp 104 in LST 702.

13 June,         1945 -- OTC changed enroute to ComLSTGrp 67 in LST 802.

15 June,         1945 -- Arrived Subic Bay, P.I. Embarked personnel of 1st Radio Squadron Mobile, 5th U.S.A.A.F. for transportation to Okinawa.

16 June,         1945 -- Loaded Air Force equipment for transportation to Okinawa,

18 June,          1945 -- Departed Subic Bay in convoy, escorted, enroute to Lingayen Gulf. OTC ComLSTGrp 67 in LST 822.

19 June,          1945 -- Arrived Lingayen Gulf, P.I. Joined with convoy waiting,

20 June,          1945 -- Departed Lingayen Gulf in convoy, escorted, enroute to Okinawa. OTC ComLSTGrp 104 in LST 702.

24 June,          1945 -- Arrived Okinawa.

26 June,          1945 -- Debarked passengers, unloaded cargo,

27 June,          1945 -- Embarked personnel and equipment of Hq Co., and Cos. A and B, 77th Inf.,Div., U.S.A.

29 June,          1945 -- Departed Okinawa in convoy, escorted, enroute to Leyte Gulf, P.I. OTC ComLSTGrp 104 in LST 702.

4  July,            1945 -- Arrived Tacloban, Leyte Gulf, P.I.

5  July,            1945 -- Departed Tacloban, in convoy, enroute to Cebu Isl., P.I. OTC ComLSTGrp 104 in LST 702.

6  July,            1945 -- Arrived Cebu Island. Discharged cargo. Disembarked troops.

9  July,            1945 -- Departed Cebu City, enroute to Subic Bay in convoy, unescorted. OTC ComLSTGrp 62 in LST 641.

11 July,           1945 -- Arrived Subic Bay.

14 July,           1945 -- Embarked personnel of 6th Emerg. Rescue Squadron and 421st Night  Fighter Squadron 5th U.S.A,A.F., with equipment, for transportation to Okinawa.

 16 July,          1945 -- Departed Subic Bay in convoy, escorted, enroute to Ie Shima. OTC ComLSTGrp 62 in LST 641.

17 July,           1945 -- Arrived Lingayen Gulf. Shelter from bad weather.

18 July,           1945 -- Departed Lingayen Gulf, enroute to Ie Shima. Convoy unchanged.

23 July,           1945 -- Arrived Okinawa. Detached from convoy, and proceeded to Ie Shima.

24 July,           1945 -- Discharged cargo, disembarked passengers.

26 July,           1945 -- Returned to Okinawa from Ie Shima.

28 July,           1945 -- Embarked personnel and equipment from 321st Med. Bn., 15th Portable Surgical Hosp., 6th Portable Surgical Hosp., 96th Cavalry Reconn. Troop (mechanized) -- all U.S. Army.

1  August,        1945 -- Departed Okinawa, enroute to Tacloban, P.I., in convoy, escorted. OTC ComLSTGrp 62 in LST 641.

7  August,        1945 -- Arrived Leyte Gulf, P.I.

10 August,       1945 -- Departed Leyte Gulf, enroute to Panducaran, P.I. (Mindoro Isl. ), in convoy unescorted.

12 August,       1945 -- Arrived Panducaran, enroute to Batangas, P.I., in convoy unescorted. OTC ComLSTGrp 91 in LST 854. Arrived Batangas same day.

15 August,       1945 -- Loaded equipment consigned to 27th Inf.,Div., Okinawa.

19 August,       1945 -- Departed Batangas, enroute to Subic, in convoy, unescorted. OTC in LST 794.

20 August,       1945 -- Arrived Subic Bay, P.I.

25 August,       1945 -- Departed Subic Bay in convoy, escorted, enroute to Okinawa. OTC ComLSTGrp 91 in LST 854.

30 August,       1945 -- Separated from convoy with 3 other LST's to proceed to Okinawa. OTC now in LST 794. Arrived Okinawa same day.

4   September, 1945 -- Unloaded cargo.

12 September, 1945 -- Embarked personnel and equipment of 241st Replacement Co., 24th Army Corps, Co.A., 3rd Signal Ban., "D" Co.,472nd Amph. Truck Co., 29th General Hosp -- all U.S.Army -- for transportation to Jinsen, Korea.

13 September, 1945 -- Departed Hagushi Anchorage~ Okinawa, in convoy, escorted, enroute to Jinsen, Korea. OTC in LC(FF) 575.

17 September, 1945 -- Arrived Jinsen, Korea.

18 September, 1945 -- Disembarked passengers and unloaded cargo.

23 September, 1945 -- Departed Jinsen, Korea, in convoy, escorted, enroute to Okinawa. OTC in DE 704.

27 September, 1945 -- Arrived Okinawa.

29 September,  l945 -- Departed Okinawa in convoy, unescorted, to evade typhoon. OTC ComLSTGrp 75 in LST 861.

2  October,     1945 -- Returned to Hagushi, Okinawa.

8  October,     1945 -- Departed Okinawa in convoy, unescorted, to evade typhoon. OTC in LST 861.

11 October,     1945 -- Returned to Okinawa.

14 October,     1945 -- Embarked personnel and equipment of 377th Sta. Hosp.; 3119th Engr Sv. Det(ff); 31st Sta. Hosp. -- all U.S. Army -- for transportation to Jinsen, Korea.

18 October,    1945 -- Departed Hagushi Anchorage, Okinawa, in convoy, escorted, to Jinsen, Korea. OTC ComLSTGrp 64 in LST 755.

22 October,    1945 -- Arrived Jinsen, Korea.

23 October,    1945 -- Disembarked passengers and unloaded cargo.

27 October,    1945 -- Departed Jinsen, Korea, in convoy, to Saishu To. OTC CTU 78.16.19 in LST 1004.

28 October,    1945 -- Arrived Saishu To. Embarked Japanese Prisoners of War and U.S. Army Guard Detail, for transportation to Sasebo, Kyushu. Departed Saishu To. in convoy to Sasebo, Kyushu. OTC CTU 78.16.19 in LST 1004.

31 October,    1945 -- Arrived Sasebo, Kyushu. Disembarked Prisoners of war.

2  November,  1945 -- Disembarked Army Guard Detail. Departed Sasebo enroute to Okinawa.

4  November,  1945 -- Arrived Hagushi, Okinawa.

6  November,  1945 -- Embarked personnel and equipment of 762nd Engineers Company and 29th General Hospital, U.S. Army, for trans-portation to Jinsen, Korea.

8  November,  1945 -- Departed Okinawa in convoy to Jinsen, Korea. OTC CTU 78.14.15 in LST 1004.

12 November,  1945 -- Arrived Jinsen, Korea.

13 November,  1945 -- Disembarked passengers and unloaded cargo.

14 November, 1945 -- Departed Jinsen, Korea, in convoy, enroute to Taku, China. OTC CTU 78.16.15, in LST 794. No cargo or passengers.

16 November, 1945 -- Arrived Taku Bar, China.

25 November, 1945 -- Embarked 999 Japanese Prisoners of war with U.S. Marine Guard Detail, for transportation to Sasebo, Kyushu.

26 November, 1945 -- Departed Taku, China, in convoy to Sasebo, Kyushu. OTC CTU 78.19.13, in LST 794.

30 November, 1945 -- Arrived Sasebo, Kyushu. Debarked Japanese Prisoners of war.

3  December,   1945 -- Embarked 1050 Chinese repatriates for transportation to Taku, China. OTC CTU 78.19.13 in LST 794.

7  December,   1945 -- Arrived Taku Bar, China.

8  December,   1945 -- Disembarked Chinese repatriates. U.S.. Marine Guard Detail detached by reason of completion of temporary duty aboard.

11 December,   1945 -- Embarked five U.S. Naval personnel for transportation to Tsingtao, China. No cargo.

12 December,   1945 -- Departed Taku, China, in company with LST 796 for Tsingtao, China. OTC in LST 794.

14 December,   1945 -- Arrived Tsingtao, China.

15 December,   1945 -- U.S. Navy passengers disembarked. Departed Tsingtao, China, in convoy to Guam, with LST's 796, 764, 833, and LC(FF) 370. OTC CTU 78.15.20 in LST 794. No cargo or passengers.

26 December,   1945 -- Arrived Guam.

30 December,   1945 -- Departed Guam in convoy to Pearl Harbor,T.H. OTC ComLST Flot 21 aboard LST 796. LST’s 764 and 794 in company.

9  January,         1946 -- Crossed International Date Line.

15 January,        1946 -- Arrived Pearl Harbor, T.H.

17 January,        1946 -- Loaded tank deck with Army vehicles for delivery to Oakland, California. Embarked five U.S. Coast Guard Officers for transportation to U.S.

18 January,        1946 -- Departed Pearl Harbor, T.H., enroute to San Francisco, California; proceeding independently.

28 January,        1946 -- Arrived San Francisco, California. U.S. Coast Guard Officer passengers detached.
 

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