USS Lander (APA-178)

USS Lander (APA-178/LPA-178) was a Haskell-class attack transport. Her dangerous task was to deliver troops to the battle front, and to recover and care for the wounded. She served her country in the Pacific Ocean in the war against the Empire of Japan and returned home post-war with two battle stars to her credit.

Lander (APA-178) was laid down 9 October 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon, under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 19 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. H. C. McVean, Jr.; acquired by the Navy 8 December 1944; and commissioned 9 December 1944 at Astoria, Oregon, Capt. John D. Sweeney in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After shakedown, Lander operated off the California coast until she departed San Pedro, California, 9 February 1945 for the western Pacific.

Supporting Iwo Jima operations
Steaming via Pearl Harbor, the attack transport reached Eniwetok 28 February, joined units of task force TF 51, and sailed 2 March for Iwo Jima. She sighted the embattled island 6 March and cruised in a holding area before dropping anchor 14 March. She embarked U.S. Marine casualties and loaded cargo, then sailed for Guam 20 March. Arriving the 22d, she embarked additional marines and departed the next day for Pearl Harbor where she arrived 4 April.

Supporting Okinawa operations
Carrying troops and cargo, the attack transport departed 20 May for the Ryukyus. Steaming via the Marshall Islands and Ulithi, she arrived Okinawa 7 June and landed her troops as reinforcements. After embarking 220 military passengers and 560 enemy prisoners, she sailed 11 June and transferred troops and POW’s at Ulithi 17 June. Departing the 18th, Lander embarked additional passengers at Manus, Admiralties; Eniwetok, Roi Namur, and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; and Pearl Harbor before arriving San Francisco 17 July.

End-of-war activity
As the war drew to a close, Lander transported 1,436 troops to Eniwetok, arriving 17 August. Proceeding 25 August, she steamed via Ulithi to the Philippines and arrived Manila 7 September. On two cruises from 20 September to 21 October, she carried occupation troops and equipment between the Philippines and Japan. After joining the “Operation Magic Carpet” fleet 24 October, she sailed from Matsuyama, Japan, 27 October; embarked 1,934 homebound veterans at Saipan; and departed 1 November for San Francisco, California, where she arrived 14 November. Sailing for the western Pacific 29 November, she embarked military passengers at Guam 15 December and returned them to San Pedro, California, 28 December. Lander departed for San Francisco 21 January 1946. then sailed 28 January for the U.S. East Coast.

Post-war decommissioning
Arriving Norfolk, Virginia, 16 February, she decommissioned 29 March. Transferred to the Maritime Commission 1 April, she was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and was berthed at James River, Virginia. She was redesignated Amphibious Transport (LPA-178) on 14 August 1968 and was struck from the Naval Register 1 September 1983. On 17 September 1983, she was disposed of by MARAD. Her fate is unknown.

Military awards and honors
Lander received two battle stars for World War II service.