USS Leedstown (APA-56)

Leedstown arrived at Norfolk, Virginia 16 July 1943 for amphibious training in Chesapeake Bay with units of the U.S. Army. She departed Norfolk, 11 December for the Pacific, arriving Honolulu New Year’s Eve 1943.

The ship sailed from Honolulu 22 January bringing troops to Kwajalein 31 January for the invasion of the Marshall Islands, a major step in the Navy’s mighty island hopping campaign which relentlessly pushed Japan back to her home islands and defeat. After the Marshalls were secured, she departed Kwajalein 5 February and spent the next 3 months transporting supplies and reinforcements to the Solomon and Marshall Islands.

From 10 to 28 May, the ship was at Tulagi, training for the amphibious assault on Guam. Sailing 12 June, she debarked her troops in the resistless assault on Guam, 21 July. Leedstown cared for 270 battle casualties, and departed 5 August for Guadalcanal, returning many of the wounded for hospitalization.

The busy APA rehearsed for the next operation and departed Guadalcanal 8 September for the invasion of Peleliu 15 to 20 September. During this operation, she repaired numerous landing craft and cared for a total of 326 casualties.

On 13 October, she sailed from Honolulu as a unit of TF 78, Central Philippine Attack Force, for the attack on Leyte Island, 20 October. On 14 November, she brought reinforcements to this crucial battle zone and then departed for New Guinea 29 November.

Correct "she sailed from Honolulu as a unit of TF 78" To read: "she sailed from Hulmboldt Bay, New Guinea as a unit of TF 78"

Data source: Deck Log, U.S.S. LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) Friday 13 October 1944

Ray D. Kester served aboard Leedstown JULY 1943- JULY 1945 U.S.S. LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) reunion secretary 6128 SHERBORN LN SPRINGFIELD VA 221520-1630 TEL/FAX: 703-451-2520

She then participated in the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, 9 January, and Iwo Jima 22 February 1945. Leedstown spent the remainder of the war engaged in training operations and transportation duties in the Pacific.

After the conclusion of hostilities, she participated in two Operation Magic Carpet missions bringing demobilizing troops home from the war. The first mission traveled from Long Beach to the Philippines, taking a load of soldiers from the Philippines to Japan, then picked up a load of Seabees in Okinawa Japan for transport home to Seattle. The second mission began in Seattle, traveled to Yokohama, Japan, picked up a load of soldiers, then returned to Long Beach. Following the second Magic Carpet mission, the USS Leedstown traveled via the Panama Canal to Norfolk VA where the ship was decommissioned, and later became a cargo ship.

She last entered Seattle in March 1946, decommissioned 7 March and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 July 1946. Leedstown was awarded six battle stars for World War II service. The Leedstown (apa56) was the most decorated Winsor Class ship of World War II. It earned its position at the head of the fleet for its last three of its six invasions.

Leedstown was sold to the Shepard Steam Ship Company in 1947 and renamed Minute Man. Later, she was sold to American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines and renamed Exilona. In February, 1964 the Exilona, captained by Edward L. Jungerheld, delivered the first 6,642-ton installment on the million-ton sale of US grain to the Soviet Union, the first since the conclusion of the Second World War. The ship was scrapped in April 1970.