About this Unit
USS Telfair (APA-210) was a Haskell-class attack transport commissioned by the United States Navy in October 1944. She played a vital role in World War II, participating in the Okinawa campaign by delivering troops and equipment under heavy enemy attack. After the war, Telfair assisted in occupation duties in the Far East and supported Operation Magic Carpet by bringing veterans home. The ship was decommissioned in 1946, briefly recommissioned for service during the Korean War, and ultimately struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1970.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Telfair (APA-210) was named after Telfair County, Georgia, following the tradition of naming attack transports after counties in the United States.
• Class: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, based on the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design, specially fitted for amphibious operations.
• World War II Service: Commissioned on 31 October 1944, Telfair participated in the final phases of the Pacific campaign, notably in the Okinawa operation in 1945, landing troops and supplies under enemy fire.
• Kamikaze Threat: During the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945, Telfair operated in hazardous waters frequently targeted by Japanese kamikaze attacks; she escaped serious damage during these operations.
• Operation Magic Carpet: After the war, Telfair was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, the massive effort to return U.S. servicemen home from the Pacific, making several voyages to and from the Far East.
• Korean War Duty: Reactivated for the Korean War, Telfair conducted troop and equipment transport missions between the United States, Japan, and Korea, supporting United Nations operations.
• Far East Deployments: Throughout her service, Telfair made numerous peacetime deployments to the Far East, participating in training exercises and supporting U.S. military presence in the region during the Cold War.
• Decommissioned Twice: Telfair was first decommissioned in 1946, then recommissioned in 1950 for the Korean War, and finally decommissioned again in 1955, entering the reserve fleet.
• Awards: The ship was awarded one battle star for World War II service and two battle stars for her Korean War service, recognizing her participation in combat operations.
• Final Fate: After years in reserve, USS Telfair was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1968 and scrapped in 1974, ending a career that spanned three decades and two major conflicts.
