USS Begor APD 127

• USS Begor (APD-127) Origins: Originally laid down as a destroyer escort (DE-711) at Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan, Begor was reclassified during construction as a high-speed transport (APD-127) in July 1944. • Namesake: The ship was named in honor of Ensign Charles J. Begor, a naval aviator who was killed in action during the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. • World War II Service: USS Begor was commissioned on 14 June 1945, arriving in the Pacific theater just as World War II was ending. She participated in post-war occupation duties in Japan and China. • Operation Magic Carpet: Begor was part of Operation Magic Carpet, tasked with repatriating American servicemen from the Pacific after Japan’s surrender, making voyages between the Philippines, Okinawa, and the U.S. • Korean War Involvement: Reactivated during the Korean War, Begor served with Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), predecessors to Navy SEALs, conducting amphibious and reconnaissance operations along Korea’s coasts. • Inchon Landing: USS Begor played a crucial role in the famous Inchon Landing (September 1950), transporting and supporting UDTs who cleared obstacles for the successful amphibious assault. • Minesweeping Operations: The ship supported minesweeping operations, including at Wonsan, Korea, clearing the way for Allied landings and supply efforts. • Cold War Service: After Korea, Begor conducted training and patrols throughout the Western Pacific, frequently operating with the Seventh Fleet and helping to project American presence during the early Cold War. • Decommissioning: USS Begor was decommissioned on 20 December 1957 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, never seeing active service again. • Final Fate: The ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1966 and sold for scrapping in 1967, closing the chapter on a vessel that served in two major conflicts and the immediate post-war era.