The USS Kingsbury (APA/LPA-177) was a Haskell-class attack transport built for the United States Navy during World War II. Launched on November 16, 1944, by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, Oregon, under a United States Maritime Commission contract, she was sponsored by Mrs. Leonard Buckler. The vessel was commissioned shortly thereafter on December 6, 1944. Constructed as a standard attack transport, Kingsbury was designed to carry troops and their equipment directly into combat zones. After a shakedown along the California coast, she departed San Pedro, Los Angeles, on February 9, 1945, heading towards the Pacific Theatre. Her journey included stops at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok before arriving at Iwo Jima on March 14, where she embarked battle-worn U.S. Marines. She returned to Pearl Harbor on April 5 via Guam and Eniwetok. Throughout her service, Kingsbury played a significant role in troop transport and logistical support. In May 1945, she transported 1,507 soldiers to Seattle, then departed in June for another mission to Iwo Jima, arriving in July to debark troops. Later, she supported occupation operations in Japan, arriving at Sasebo on September 22, where she disembarked troops of the 5th Marine Division. From late September to mid-October, she made a circuitous run between Japan and the Philippines to move occupation troops. In late October, Kingsbury participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating over 2,000 troops to the United States. She completed additional trips to the Far East in early 1946, carrying replacement troops to Manila and returning veterans to the U.S. West Coast. Decommissioned on April 19, 1946, at Portsmouth, Virginia, she was transferred to the Maritime Commission and placed in the James River Reserve Fleet. She was ultimately scrapped in 1983. For her service during World War II, the USS Kingsbury was awarded one battle star, marking her contribution to the war effort.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.