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U.S.S. BEXAR
(APA-237)PERFORMANCE ENDURANCE PREPAREDNESS
Click to view crew list
USS BEXAR (APA-237 ) - a Haskell-class attack transport
In Commission 1945 to 1947APA-237 Deployments - Major Events
Add a APA-237 Shellback Initiation | Add a APA-237 Deployment - Major Event | ||||
Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JUN | 1945 | - | Keel Date: 2 JUN 1945 at Oregon Shipbuilding | ||
JUL | 1945 | - | Launch Date: 25 JUL 1945 | ||
OCT | 1945 | - | Commissioned: 9 OCT 1945 | ||
JAN | 1952 | - | JUN | 1952 | Dry Dock |
FEB | 1955 | - | MAR | 1955 | Take 1st MarDiv from Korea to San Diego |
MAR | 1955 | - | APR | 1955 | 1ST Marine Div. |
SEP | 1960 | - | Shellback Initiation - 8 SEP 1960 - Pacific Ocean | ||
OCT | 1960 | - | OCT | 1960 | Matadi, Belgian Congo: 1,200 Indonesian Troops & equipment |
OCT | 1962 | - | DEC | 1962 | Cuban Missle Blockade |
JUL | 1964 | - | NOV | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
OCT | 1964 | - | JUN | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
OCT | 1964 | - | MAY | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
OCT | 1964 | - | JUN | 1965 | Viet Nam |
JUL | 1965 | - | OCT | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JUL | 1966 | - | APR | 1967 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
FEB | 1968 | - | NOV | 1968 | West Pac |
APR | 1968 | - | Shellback Initiation - 24 APR 1968 - Pacific Ocean | ||
AUG | 1969 | - | NOV | 1969 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
SEP | 1969 | - | NOV | 1969 | West Pac |
SEP | 1969 | - | NOV | 1969 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
OCT | 1969 | - | NOV | 1969 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
AUG | 1970 | - | Decommissioned: 7 AUG 1970 |
APA-237 General Specifications
Class: Haskell-class attack transport
Named for: Bexar County
Displacement: 6720 tons
Length: 455 feet
Beam: 62 feet
Draft: 24 feet
Final Disposition: Sold for scrap 16 June 1982
USS BEXAR (APA-237)
Bexar (APA-237) was launched 25 July 1945 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.
Portland
Oreg.
under a Maritime Commission contract
sponsored by Mrs. A. E. Gunderson
acquired by the Navy 9 October 1945
and commissioned the same day
Captain A. M. Kowalzyk
Jr.
in command.
Upon completion of shakedown training
Bexar joined the "Magic Carpet" fleet. She returned troops from the Pacific until February 1946. After a brief tour of duty around San Diego during the early part of 1946
she was ordered to Pearl Harbor to prepare for Operation Cross-roads. In June Bexar proceeded to Bikini Atoll where she served as an equipment supply center.
In August she returned to the west coast and underwent radioactivity tests. In January 1947 she joined the Amphibious Force
Atlantic Fleet
based at Norfolk. Bexar operated along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean until July 1950
making a Mediterranean cruise (January-February 1948) with Marines embarked.
Between March 1948 and July 1950 she participated in several amphibious exercises and Naval Reserve cruises along the east coast. In September 1949 she proceeded to the Hawaiian Islands for a large scale amphibious exercise. Returning to Norfolk in December
she resumed her role in the Amphibious Force
Atlantic Fleet.
On 31 July 1950 Bexar departed Norfolk for the Mediterranean. In August she was ordered to embark Marines and proceed via the Suez Canal to Japan. Upon arrival
she proceeded to Korea where she participated in the Inchon (15 September) and Wonsan (25 October) landings and the evacuation of Chinnampo and Inchon. Departing the Far East 6 January 1951 she proceeded to San Diego
arriving later in the month.
Between August 1951 and December 1953 Bexar made two more Far Eastern tours in support of Korean operations (August 1951-May 1952 and July-December 1953). During the latter she served as flagship for Operation Big Switch
the movement of prisoners from Koje Do to Inchon
Korea.
Since that time Bexar has continued to operate with Amphibious Force
Pacific Fleet. She made another tour of the Far East (23 October 1954-22 April 1955) during which she participated in the Tachen Islands evacuation.
Besar received three battle stars for her Korean service.