USS Livingston (AP-163)

USS Livingston (AP-163/AK-222) was a Crater-class cargo ship built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations, provided valuable services to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and returned home after the war with two battle stars to her credit.

Liberty ship built in California
Livingston (AP-163) was laid down as Josiah D. Whitney 22 March 1943 by California Shipbuilding Corporation, Wilmington, California, under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract; launched 16 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. D. W. Fernhout; acquired by the Navy 25 October 1943; renamed Livingston 30 October 1943; and commissioned 10 November 1943, Lt. Cmdr. Leroy J. Alexanderson in command.

World War II service
After loading cargo, Livingston departed Port Hueneme, California, 22 November 1943 for Pearl Harbor, where she prepared for the Marshall Islands campaign. Departing Pearl Harbor 25 January 1944 with U.S. Marines and Seabees, the transport arrived off Majuro 3 February to reinforce that island. Majuro, with its spacious lagoon, was ideal base for the mobile supply force under Capt. Worral R. Carter. After unloading her cargo, Livingston returned Pearl Harbor 21 February to prepare for the next assignment. Following another cruise to Majuro in March the transport remained in the Hawaiian Islands, rehearsing with the 27th Infantry Division for the Saipan invasion. Preparations complete, she departed Pearl Harbor 29 May, touched Kwajalein briefly, and arrived off Saipan 20 June. Needed “to secure control of sea communications through the central Pacific,” Saipan was the scene of a bitter battle in which 24,000 Japanese lost their lives futilely attempting to stop the American offensive. Livingston remained off Saipan supporting the fighters ashore until she sailed for Eniwetok 2 July. Throughout the summer, she transported troops and equipment among the Allied-occupied islands in the Marshall Islands, the Gilbert Islands, and the Mariana Islands. Reclassified AK-222 on 20 August, she returned to Pearl Harbor 6 days later for additional supplies. Livingston returned to the advance bases 30 September, arriving at Eniwetok. For the next 4 months, she made cargo runs to the occupied islands before departing Saipan 26 January 1945 for San Francisco, California. Following a stateside overhaul, the cargo ship resumed operations in mid-April. After a round-trip cruise to Pearl Harbor, she sailed again from San Francisco, California, 15 May for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. From arrival 12 June, she continued servicing American island forces in Micronesia throughout the rest of the war. Remaining in the western Pacific Ocean after the Japanese surrender, Livingston shuttled troops and cargo among the islands until late November. Departing Manus on the 29th, she arrived Seattle, Washington, 19 December.

Post-war decommissioning
On 6 January 1946 the cargo ship arrived San Francisco where she decommissioned 27 February and was returned to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) the same day. She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet and was berthed at Suisun Bay, California until sold for scrapping on 13 February 1973, physically departing the reserve fleet on 27 March 1973.

Honors and awards
Livingston received two battle stars for World War II service:
 * Marshall Islands operation - Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 3 February 1944
 * Marianas operation - Capture and occupation of Saipan, 20 June to 2 July 1944

Qualified Livingston personnel were eligible for the following:
 * American Campaign Medal
 * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
 * World War II Victory Medal
 * Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)