Built by the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California, the attack transport Sheridan (APA-51) was acquired from the Maritime Commission and entered service with the Navy on 31 July 1943. On 20 November 1943, the Sheridan arrived at Tarawa and began offloading her precious load of troops and cargo. Once completed, she filled up with troops, boats, and casualties and set sail for Hawaii, arriving in Pearl Harbor on 2 December 1943, at which time she was inspected by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz before returning to California. In early 1944, the Sheridan took part in landings off Kawajalein and subsequently operated as a hospital ship.
In June 1944, the Sheridan and her task force arrived off Eniwetok to transfer troops and then sailed for Saipan, arriving there on 15 June. The Sheridan next picked up casualties at Eniwetok and Saipan before returning home to Hawaii and back out to Guam in July. In August, she transported Army troops and equipment for operations against the Philippine Islands. Arriving off Leyte in October 1944, the Sheridan put her troops ashore during the first waves of the attack.
In December, the Sheridan loaded troops at Bougainville and took part in training maneuvers in New Guinea. Next, she sailed for Lingayen Gulf, fully loaded as a part of the attacking task force. Despite heavy Japanese air opposition, the Sheridan arrived to unload her cargo and take on wounded Navy casualties. The Sheridan remained in the region until March 1945, when she took on troops for the assault on Okinawa, later deploying them into the heat of battle on 1 April 1945.
The Sheridan was back in action in August, transporting cargo and troops around the Pacific war zone until the end of the conflict. The Sheridan arrived in Tokyo Bay and offloaded her troops for occupation duty on 3 September. Following the Japanese surrender, she spent several days in Taku, China, and later delivered a Marine air group there. She next took part in Operation Magic Carpet, bringing troops home from the war zone. On 7 January, she was released from transport duty and sailed to Mobile, Alabama, for her deactivation. She was decommissioned on 5 March 1946 and then sold to United States Lines, serving out the remainder of her days as the American Scientist. In 1969, she was sold for scrap.
Lest We Forget: Attack Transport Sheridan (APA-51)
By Eric Wertheim
—Eric Wertheim