USS Monrovia (APA-31)

• Namesake: USS Monrovia (APA-31) was named after the city of Monrovia, California, which in turn was named for President James Monroe. • Type and Class: She was a Bayfield-class attack transport, designed for amphibious assault operations, and could carry troops, landing craft, and cargo. • Launch and Commission: Launched on 26 November 1942 by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned on 1 February 1943. • World War II Service: USS Monrovia participated in several major invasions, including Sicily (Operation Husky), Salerno (Operation Avalanche), and Normandy (Operation Overlord) in 1944. • General George S. Patton’s Headquarters: During the Sicily landings in July 1943, Monrovia served as the flagship and headquarters for General Patton and his staff. • Pacific Theater: After service in Europe, she was transferred to the Pacific, where she took part in the invasions of Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, and Okinawa. • Kamikaze Attack: While participating in the Okinawa campaign in 1945, Monrovia narrowly avoided destruction from Japanese kamikaze attacks. • Post-war Service: After the war, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, returning thousands of American servicemen home from the Pacific. • Korean War Activity: Reactivated for the Korean War, Monrovia transported troops and supplies to Korea and Japan between 1950 and 1955. • Decommission and Fate: She was decommissioned in 1955, placed in reserve, and eventually sold for scrap in 1968, marking the end of her distinguished naval career.