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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Okaloosa (APA-219)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Quebec - Tango
 NPQT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 8 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 567), at Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond CA.
  • Launched, 22 October 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on loan-charter
  • Commissioned USS Okaloosa (APA-219), 28 November 1944, Capt. Robert Edward Jasperson USN (21) in command
  • During World War II USS Okaloosa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Nineteen, COMO C.D. Edgar USN (12);
    TransDiv Fifty-Six, CAPT. G.F. Galpin USN (21) and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 to 30 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS Okaloosa was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    3 September to 1 December 19453 September to 1 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 21 July 1949 at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange Group
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 23 September 1955
  • Permanent custody assumed by MARAD, 26 September 1958, transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL. Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1958
  • USS Okaloosa (APA-219) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 28 October 1971, to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp.(PD-X-918 dated 20 July 1971) one of a nine hull sale for $467,100.00, Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 20 May 1972
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t (fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 17.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 87
    Enlisted 1,475
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWT
    non-refrigerated 150,000 Cu ft.
    Boats
    two LCMs
    one open LCPL
    one covered LCPL (Captain's Gig)
    two LCPRs
    eighteen LCVPs
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual-purpose gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ships' Service Generators
    one propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Okaloosa 18k USS Okaloosa (APA-219) under way, circa 1946.
    US Navy photo by William H Davies.         		Joe Radigan, MACM USN Ret
    Okaloosa 65k USS Okaloosa (APA-219) dressed with flags while moored to a buoy, circa the later 1940s. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 68349. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Okaloosa (APA-219)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Jasperson, Robert Edward, USN (USNA 1921)28 November 1944 - 27 September 1945
    02CAPT. Bains, George Washington, USN (USNA 1925)27 September 1945 - 15 January 1947
    03CDR. Beyer Jr., Aaron Frederick, USN (USNA 1933)15 January 1947 - 10 August 1947
    04CDR. Catlett Jr., William Jackson, USN (USNA 1932)10 August 1947 - 19 May 1948
    05CDR. Darroch, James William, USN19 May 1948 - 21 July 1949
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Okaloosa (APA-219) at Amphibious Forces WW II web site
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 26 May 2017