USS Weiss (APD-135)

• Namesake: USS Weiss (APD-135) was named in honor of Marine Private First Class Raymond J. Weiss, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. • Original Design: The ship was originally laid down as a Rudderow-class destroyer escort (DE-719) before being converted during construction to a Charles Lawrence-class high-speed transport (APD-135). • Commissioning: USS Weiss was commissioned on 19 May 1945, just months before the conclusion of World War II. • Pacific Theater Service: After shakedown and fitting out, Weiss sailed to the Pacific, where she supported postwar occupation operations in the Philippines, China, and Japan. • Korean War Service: Weiss played a significant role during the Korean War, participating in the Inchon landings in September 1950 and supporting subsequent amphibious operations. • Special Operations: The ship was used for special operations, including the insertion and extraction of intelligence agents and guerrilla fighters behind enemy lines during the Korean conflict. • Evacuation Missions: In addition to combat roles, Weiss was involved in the evacuation of civilians and United Nations personnel from hazardous zones during the Korean War. • Far East Deployments: Throughout the 1950s, Weiss operated extensively in the Western Pacific, participating in amphibious training exercises with the US Marine Corps and allied nations. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Weiss was decommissioned on 31 March 1960 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register. The ship was sold for scrap in 1966. • Battle Honors: For her service, USS Weiss earned six battle stars for Korean War service and one battle star for World War II operations, reflecting her active and diverse operational history.