USS Ray K. Edwards (APD-96)

USS Ray K. Edwards (APD-96), ex-DE-237, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning
Ray K. Edwards was laid down as the Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Ray K. Edwards (DE-237) on 1 December 1943 by the Charleston Navy Yard and was launched on 19 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Lena M. Edwards. The ship was reclassified as a Crosley-class high-speed transport and redesignated APD-96 on 17 July 1944. After conversion to her new role, she was commissioned on 11 June 1945 with Lieutenant Caldwell R. Keyser in command.

Service history
Following shakedown off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Ray K. Edwards steamed for the Pacific. World War II ended on 15 August 1945 while she was en route. She reached San Diego, California, on 21 August 1945 and Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 12 September 1945. There she became flagship of Transport Division 104.

Ray K. Edwards departed Pearl Harbor on 14 September 1945 bound for Eniwetok and Okinawa, whence she steamed to Japan. She passed through the Bungo Strait and anchored in Fukuru Wan on 8 October 1945 to replenish minesweepers, tank landing ships (LSTs) and infantry landing craft (LCIs) assigned to that area. She remained in Japan through the end of 1945.

Returning to the United States, Ray K. Edwards transited the Panama Canal on 24 April 1946 and, after visits to Boston, Massachusetts, Jacksonville, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina, she was towed to Mayport, Florida, where she arrived on 13 August 1946.

Decommissioning and disposal
Decommissioned on 30 August 1946, Ray K. Edwards was berthed at Green Cove Springs, Florida, as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was stricken from the Navy List on 1 June 1960, and sold on 15 June 1961 to Diamond Manufacturing Company of Georgia for scrapping.