About this Unit
USS Bexar (APA-237/LPA-237) was a Haskell-class attack transport commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1944. She participated in the closing stages of World War II, including operations at Okinawa, and later supported occupation duties in the Far East. During the Korean War, Bexar played a critical role in amphibious landings, notably at Inchon in 1950, and continued to transport troops and supplies throughout the conflict. She later served in the Vietnam War, providing logistical support for American forces, before being decommissioned in 1969.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Bexar (APA-237/LPA-237) was named after Bexar County, Texas, which includes the city of San Antonio and was the site of several historical military engagements.
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Haskell-class Attack Transport: Bexar was one of the Haskell-class attack transports, a class built rapidly during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying troops, equipment, and landing craft.
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Late World War II Service: Commissioned on 9 December 1944, Bexar arrived in the Pacific theater in the closing months of World War II, transporting troops and cargo to forward areas.
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Operation Magic Carpet: After Japan's surrender, Bexar participated in Operation Magic Carpet, the massive effort to bring American servicemen home from the Pacific.
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Korean War: Recommissioned for the Korean War, Bexar participated in several important amphibious landings, including the famous Inchon landing in September 1950.
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Vietnam War Service: Bexar also saw action during the Vietnam War, transporting Marines, Army units, and supplies to South Vietnam as part of several amphibious operations.
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Rescue Operations: In 1957, sailors from Bexar helped rescue fishermen from a sinking junk off the coast of Taiwan, demonstrating the ship's humanitarian as well as military capabilities.
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Cold War Deployments: During the 1950s and 1960s, Bexar regularly participated in training and readiness exercises with allied navies in the Pacific, reflecting the heightened tensions of the Cold War era.
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Decommissioning and Fate: Bexar was finally decommissioned in 1969 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1976. She was sold for scrap in 1982.
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Battle Stars: For her service, USS Bexar received one battle star for World War II, four for the Korean War, and five for the Vietnam War, marking her as a veteran of three major conflicts.
