USS Pickaway (APA-222)

USS ''Pickaway'' (APA/LPA-222) was a that saw service with the US Navy in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type and named after Pickaway County, Ohio.

Construction

''Pickaway'' was laid down 1 September 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCV hull 570, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California; launched on 5 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William D. Schoning; converted into an APA; acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 12 December 1944.

Service history

World War II

After shakedown and amphibious exercises at Coronado Beach, California, ''Pickaway'' embarked some 1,500 US Army troops at Seattle, Washington, departed on 9 February, arrived Pearl Harbor on 16 February, disembarked the troops and headed for Iwo Jima to evacuate Marine forces who were finishing off the remaining Japanese forces on the island. ''Pickaway'' reached Iwo Jima on 14 March, received on board the 24th Marine Regiment, sailed on 20 March, and returned to Pearl Harbor on 5 April.

''Pickaway'' participated in amphibious exercises until sailing for Guam on 4 May, with military passengers. Arriving Guam on 17 May, she embarked soldiers, sailors, and Marines; departed Apra Harbor on 22 May; and arrived San Francisco on 7 June.

On 2 July she took on board Navy and US Coast Guard passengers and departed San Francisco for Noumea, New Caledonia. Following disembarking of personnel in Noumea on 8 July, ''Pickaway'' steamed to Espiritu Santo, the Russell Islands, and Guadalcanal to pick up passengers and sailed on 23 July, for San Francisco where she arrived on 6 August.

While preparing for another transpacific voyage, the ship learned of the end of hostilities. During the remainder of 1945, ''Pickaway'' shuttled back and forth across the Pacific embarking passengers at bases in the western Pacific and returning them to the United States.

Remaining in the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, ''Pickaway'' visited both Japan and China in 1947 and participated in Operation Sandstone, the second atomic test in the Pacific, early in 1948.

Korean War

In the summer of 1950, a month after the North Korean forces marched against South Korea, ''Pickaway'' began shuttling US Army troops from Japan to Pusan to stem the tide of battle. On 15 September 1950, she saw her first real amphibious invasion at Inchon, when the United Nations (UN) forces flanked the North Koreans. During the Korean War, ''Pickaway'' was deployed to the Korean area four times. She landed troops on most of the major Korean beachheads.

In March 1955, ''Pickaway'' left Korea for the last time, carrying troops of the same brigade she transported to Korea on her first trip. During 1957 and 1958, ''Pickaway'' made regular deployments to WestPac. During ''Pickaway''s 1958 WestPac tour, she took part in "Exercise Blue Star", which was the largest amphibious exercise conducted by Pacific Fleet forces since World War II.

Vietnam

After returning from the Far East in August 1963, ''Pickaway'' entered the Willamette Iron and Steel Works shipyard at Richmond, California, for Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM). In January 1964, the ship began extensive underway and amphibious training, and in March, departed San Diego for Hawaii, and large scale amphibious " Operation Westwind". On 18 June, she got underway from San Diego for a six-month cruise to the western Pacific. Soon after arriving in Yokosuka, she was ordered to proceed at once to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to embark a Marine Battalion for transport to Vietnam to help build up American forces after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

In March 1965, she participated in the US Pacific Fleet Exercise "Silver Lance". On 24 May 1965, she again bolstered the Allied military effort in Vietnam. On 7 July 1965, together with other elements of Amphibious Squadron 3, ''Pickaway'' landed the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Marine Regiment over the beaches of Da Nang, South Vietnam.

During 1966 she participated in Operations "Jackstay", "Osage", "Deckhouse I", "Nathan Hale", "Deck House II", and "Hastings".

After overhaul and training out of San Diego, ''Pickaway'' departed San Diego on 31 May, for the western Pacific and after offloading cargo at Da Nang, proceeded to Manila for participation in the SEATO training exercise "Sea Dog." On 19 October ''Pickaway'' replenished at sea in the Tonkin Gulf. ''Pickaway'' spent 1968 operating out of San Diego, California.

Decommissioning

She was decommissioned 30 January 1970, with delivery to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 26 August 1970. ''Pickaway'' was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, Benicia, California. She was struck from the Navy Vessel Register on 1 December 1976.

Fate

On 15 February 1980, A. L. Burbank & Co., received ''Pickaway'' along with , , and to trade with Moore McCormack Lines, Inc., for SS ''Mormaccape'' and SS ''Mormactrade''. She was then sold to Carol Shipping & Trading Corporation, Liberia, who sold her to Kang Hua Enterprise, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to be scrapped. She was withdrawn from the fleet 26 March 1980.

Awards

''Pickaway'' received one battle star for World War II service and six battle stars for Korean War service.

Notes

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Bibliography

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickaway (APA-222)
Haskell-class attack transports
Pickaway County, Ohio
World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States
Ships built in Richmond, California
1944 ships
Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet