USS ROCKBRIDGE APA 228

• Namesake: USS Rockbridge (APA-228) was named after Rockbridge County, Virginia. • Haskell-Class: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, built to carry troops and their equipment for amphibious assaults during World War II. • Launch Date: Rockbridge was launched on 10 August 1944 by Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington. • World War II Service: She participated in the Okinawa campaign in April 1945, landing troops and withstanding air attacks. • Kamikaze Threat: During the Okinawa operation, Rockbridge and her crew braved constant kamikaze raids while offloading troops and cargo. • Operation Magic Carpet: After WWII, she was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, bringing home thousands of American servicemen from the Pacific. • Decommissioning and Recommissioning: Rockbridge was decommissioned in 1946 but brought back into service for the Korean War in 1950. • Cuban Missile Crisis: She played a supporting role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, transporting troops and supplies during the naval blockade. • Vietnam War Support: Rockbridge supported amphibious training and operations during the Vietnam War era, helping to maintain readiness. • Final Fate: She was eventually scrapped in 1983, after nearly four decades of service in major world conflicts and crises.