USS Montrose (APA-212)

• Namesake: USS Montrose (APA-212) was named after Montrose County, Colorado, following the tradition of naming attack transports after counties in the United States. • Type: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, part of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design, purpose-built for amphibious warfare during World War II. • World War II Service: Commissioned on 2 October 1944, Montrose participated in key Pacific operations, including the assault and occupation of Okinawa, one of the largest amphibious invasions in history. • Kamikaze Threat: During the Okinawa campaign, Montrose faced intense Japanese kamikaze attacks, but the ship and her crew managed to avoid serious damage. • Post-War Missions: After the war, Montrose participated in Operation Magic Carpet, bringing thousands of American servicemen home from the Pacific. • Korean War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War, Montrose supported amphibious landings at Inchon in 1950, a pivotal operation that turned the tide in favor of United Nations forces. • Vietnam War Deployments: Montrose was again called into service during the Vietnam War, transporting troops, equipment, and supplies, and supporting amphibious operations off the Vietnamese coast. • Hollywood Appearance: USS Montrose appeared in the classic 1955 film "Mister Roberts," starring Henry Fonda and James Cagney, portraying the fictional USS Reluctant. • Decorations: Over her long career, Montrose earned six battle stars: one for World War II, two for Korea, and three for Vietnam. • Final Fate: USS Montrose was decommissioned in 1969 and sold for scrap in 1970, ending 25 years of distinguished service in three major conflicts.