USS Henrico (APA-45)

• Namesake: USS Henrico (APA-45) was named after Henrico County, Virginia, one of the original eight shires established in colonial Virginia in 1634. • Class and Type: She was a Bayfield-class attack transport, designed to carry troops, equipment, and landing craft for amphibious assaults. • D-Day Involvement: Henrico played a vital role in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, landing troops at Omaha Beach during the first wave of the D-Day invasion. • Kamikaze Attack: On April 2, 1945, during the Okinawa campaign, Henrico was struck by a kamikaze aircraft, resulting in the deaths of 49 crew members and wounding 125 others. • Presidential Presence: Future U.S. President John F. Kennedy was briefly aboard Henrico for a visit in 1944 while she was preparing for the southern France invasion. • Korean War Service: Henrico participated in the Inchon landings in September 1950, a critical operation that turned the tide in favor of United Nations forces during the Korean War. • Vietnam War: Henrico served in the early years of the Vietnam War, participating in troop and equipment transport missions off the coast of Vietnam. • Multiple Battle Stars: She earned eight battle stars for her World War II service, two for the Korean War, and three for the Vietnam War, demonstrating a long and distinguished combat record. • Longevity: USS Henrico served for more than 24 years, from her commissioning in 1943 until her decommissioning in 1968. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, Henrico was sold for scrap in 1969, ending her long and storied career supporting American military operations across three major conflicts.