USS Rockwall (APA-230)

• Namesake: USS Rockwall (APA-230) was named after Rockwall County, Texas, following the tradition of naming attack transports after counties in the United States. • Class and Type: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, a type of vessel specially designed to carry troops and their equipment for amphibious assaults during World War II. • Launch & Commission: USS Rockwall was launched on 15 October 1944 by Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, and commissioned on 14 November 1944. • World War II Service: She participated in the final stages of the Pacific War, transporting troops and cargo to key locations such as Okinawa and the Philippines. • Operation Magic Carpet: After the war, Rockwall was part of "Operation Magic Carpet," the massive effort to bring American servicemen home from the Pacific. • Nuclear Test Support: In 1946, USS Rockwall served as a support ship during "Operation Crossroads," the famous atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. • Decommissioning & Reserve: The ship was decommissioned in 1947 and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, but was later recommissioned for service during the Korean War. • Korean War Service: During the Korean War, she was reactivated and served primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in training and troop transport missions. • Final Fate: USS Rockwall was finally decommissioned in 1955 and struck from the Navy List in 1960. She was sold for scrap in 1981. • Crew Experience: Former crew members have shared stories of enduring kamikaze attacks, rough seas, and the emotional reunions during Operation Magic Carpet, highlighting the vessel's role in both combat and peacetime operations.