USS Lumen (AKA-30) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship constructed during World War II, serving the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. Laid down by Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc. in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 19, 1944, the vessel was launched on November 20, 1944, and commissioned on December 29, 1944. The ship's design classified it as an attack cargo vessel, intended to carry troops, equipment, and supplies for amphibious operations. Following her shakedown cruise, USS Lumen departed Norfolk, Virginia, on January 29, 1945, and proceeded to Pearl Harbor to load troops and cargo. She played a pivotal role in the Okinawa campaign, departing for the Pacific theater and arriving off Okinawa on April 17, 1945. During the Battle of Okinawa, the ship unloaded men and supplies under threat of night air raids, contributing to the securing of this critical strategic base close to Japan. After Okinawa, USS Lumen continued to operate in the Pacific, arriving at Saipan on April 27 and shuttling cargo among various islands in the South and Central Pacific for the remainder of the war. She was present at Pearl Harbor when Japan announced its surrender, marking the end of hostilities. In the post-war period, USS Lumen supported occupation efforts by delivering cargo to the Philippines and Japan, providing reinforcements and supplies to occupation troops. Following her service in the Pacific, the ship helped transport veterans back to the United States, arriving on the West Coast in early 1946. She was decommissioned at Charleston on March 23, 1946, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration later that year. USS Lumen was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Texas, until she was sold for scrap to Luria Bros. Co., Inc., on December 17, 1964. During her brief but significant service, USS Lumen earned one battle star for her contributions during World War II.

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