USS Pickaway (APA-222)

• Namesake: USS Pickaway (APA-222) was named after Pickaway County, Ohio, following the tradition of naming attack transports after counties in the United States. • Haskell-class: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, built on the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design, intended to rapidly carry troops and equipment for amphibious assaults during World War II. • World War II Service: Commissioned in December 1944, Pickaway participated in the Battle of Okinawa in April 1945, landing elements of the 27th Infantry Division under heavy enemy fire. • Kamikaze Threat: During the Okinawa campaign, Pickaway and her crew faced frequent kamikaze attacks, highlighting the perilous nature of amphibious operations in the Pacific Theatre. • Operation Magic Carpet: After World War II, she was engaged in Operation Magic Carpet, returning thousands of U.S. servicemen from the Pacific back to the United States. • Korean War Deployments: Pickaway was recommissioned for the Korean War, transporting troops and supplies to Korea, and participating in amphibious training exercises. • Vietnam War Service: The ship was active during the Vietnam War, carrying Marines and their equipment to various locations in South Vietnam, including Chu Lai and Da Nang. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat roles, Pickaway also conducted humanitarian missions, such as evacuating refugees and providing disaster relief in the Pacific region. • Decommissioning: USS Pickaway was decommissioned in 1969 after nearly 25 years of service and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1974. • Final Fate: In 1980, the ship was sold for scrap, ending her long and distinguished career, but her legacy lives on through the stories of the thousands of servicemen she carried into and out of battle.