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History of USS Olmsted (APA:LPA-188)

USS Olmsted (APA/LPA-188) was a Haskell-class attack transport commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944 during World War II. She participated in the Pacific Theater, transporting troops and cargo to key operations, including the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. After the war, Olmsted assisted in Operation Magic Carpet, bringing American servicemen home. The ship was decommissioned in 1946, later placed in reserve, and ultimately struck from the Navy list in 1974.

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ABOUT USS Olmsted (APA:LPA-188)

  • Namesake: USS Olmsted (APA/LPA-188) was named after Olmsted County in Minnesota, continuing the tradition of naming attack transports after counties in the United States.
  • Haskell-Class Attack Transport: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, a type designed to carry troops and their equipment for amphibious assaults during World War II.
  • Commissioning: USS Olmsted was launched on 16 July 1944 and commissioned on 5 September 1944, entering service late in World War II.
  • Pacific Theatre Service: The ship played a key role in the Pacific theater, transporting troops, cargo, and landing assault forces in key operations.
  • Battle of Okinawa: USS Olmsted participated in the Okinawa campaign, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War, where she landed troops and provided support under threat of kamikaze attacks.
  • Operation Magic Carpet: After World War II, Olmsted was part of Operation Magic Carpet, helping to bring thousands of American servicemen back home from the Pacific.
  • Recommissioned for the Cold War: The ship was decommissioned in 1946 but recommissioned in 1950 due to the Korean War, serving as a training ship for amphibious landings and exercises.
  • Training the Next Generation: During the 1950s and 1960s, Olmsted was used extensively for training Naval Reserve and Marine Corps units, helping to prepare U.S. forces for potential amphibious operations during the Cold War.
  • Humanitarian Mission: In 1962, Olmsted participated in the recovery mission for Mercury-Atlas 7, the spaceflight carrying astronaut Scott Carpenter.
  • Final Fate: USS Olmsted was decommissioned for the final time in 1968 and was eventually sold for scrap in 1973, ending nearly three decades of service to the United States Navy.

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