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USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13)
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USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) (1941 - 1943)
USAT Joseph T. Dickman (1940 - 1941)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Bravo - Quebec
NWBQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (Sicily-10July43) - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (5) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal



USS Joseph T. Dickman was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Harris Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 20 July 1920, for the Emergency Fleet Corp as Passenger/Cargo Liner SS Peninsula State under USSB Contract # 2584 at New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden, N.J.
  • Launched 7 July 1921
  • Delivered, 8 February 1922, to the U.S. Shipping Board (USSB)
  • Renamed SS President Pierce in May 1922
  • Transferred in August 1922 to the United States Line, renamed SS President Roosevelt
  • Taken over by the War Department, 22 October 1940 for conversion to a troopship
  • Renamed USAT Joseph T. Dickman, 12 February 1941, in honor of Maj. Gen. Joseph T. Dickman, Commanding General of the Third Army in World War I
  • Assigned to the A.T.S. Atlantic Fleet with homeport at the New York POE, Army Supply Base, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Converted as a troop transport during February-June 1941 by the Atlantic Basin Iron Works at Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 27 May 1941
  • Commissioned USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) at the New York Navy Yard, 10 June 1941, LCDR. C.W. Harwood, USCG, in command
  • Reclassified Attack Transport (APA-13), 1 February 1943
  • During WWII USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) was assigned first to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater:
    and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation
    Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 17 November 1942
    Sicilian occupation
    Gela, 10 to 12 July 1943
    Salerno landings
    9 September 1943
    Invasion of Normandy
    Utah beach, 6 June 1944
    Invasion of Southern France
    14 to 16 August 1944

  • Following service in the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) was re-assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Eighteen COMO. J.G. Moyer USN (14);
    TransDiv Fifty-Four, CAPT. J.R. Lannom USN (19) and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 9 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 7 March 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946
  • USS Joseph T. Dickman earned six battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 22 January 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 31 December 1947, to the Kaiser Co. (PD-X-395), for scrapping, withdrawn from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, 9 January 1948
    Specifications:
    Displacement 13,529 t.(lt) 21,900 t(fl)
    Length 535' 2"
    Beam 72' 4"
    Draft 31' 3"
    Speed 16.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 58
    Enlisted 635
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 95
    Enlisted 1,961
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 170,000 cu. ft, 2,600 t.
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    one twin 40mm AA gun mount
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 25,720 Bbls
    Diesel 375 Bbls
    Propulsion
    eight Yarrow header-type boilers, 265psi 460°
    two Bethlehem Curtis turbines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    one turbo-drive 100Kw 120V D.C.
    one turbo-drive 300Kw 120V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 80Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers, 10,000shp

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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Merchant Service United States Lines
    Joseph T. Dickman 89k SS President Roosevelt underway in the livery of the United States Lines, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Joseph T. Dickman 188k SS President Roosevelt underway in the livery of the United States Lines, circa 1927, location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Joseph T. Dickman 175k
    Joseph T. Dickman 122k SS President Roosevelt underway in the livery of the United States Lines, date and location unknown. Courtesy MaritimeDigital Archive. Robert Hurst
    Joseph T. Dickman 86k SS President Roosevelt underway in the livery of the United States Lines, circa 1936 in New York harbor. Tommy Trampp
    Joseph T. Dickman 104k SS President Roosevelt underway in the livery of the United States Lines, at New York, date unknown.
    Photo from US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 Vol.4, courtesy Mariners Museum, Newport News, VA.
     
    USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26)
    Joseph T. Dickman 222k
    Namesake

    Joseph Theodore Dickman was born October 6, 1857 in Dayton, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton and graduated in the class of 1871. In 1881 he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in the 3rd Cavalry. Dickman graduated from the US Army Cavalry School in 1883 and proceeded directly to the Indian territory, where he participated in the Apache War from 1885-1886, to include the Geronimo Campaign. He next participated in the Mexican border patrol operations against Garza revolutionists and the bandits, Benavides and Gonzales. Dickman's deployment during the Spanish-American War was notable. He participated in the battle of San Juan Hill-El Caney, Santiago de Cuba. He served on the staff of General Joseph Wheeler during the Philippine Insurrection from 1899-1902 and at the Battles on the Island of Panay from 1899-1900. During the Boxer Rebellion, Dickman was Chief of Staff to General Adna R. Chaffee for the Peking Relief Expedition and fought in the battle at Pa-ta-Chao, Peking on September 26, 1900. Dickman was on the Army General Staff from 1902-1905. He was an instructor at the Army War College from 1905-1912. Dickman was the US Army Inspector General from 1912-1915, taking over 2nd US Cavalry in 1915. He was given command of the 85th Infantry Division, Camp Custer, Michigan, in August of 1917. Dickman was given command of the 3rd Infantry Division in November of 1917, at the onset of World War I. He deployed 3rd Division to France aboard the Leviathan at noon, on March 4, 1918. He was the 3rd Division Commander at Chateau-Thierryin May 1918 and was made famous at the Second Battle of the Marne in July of 1918. While allied forces on both flanks retreated, the 3rd Division stood fast in the face of fantastic enemy offensives, which led to their moniker, "The Rock of the Marne." Dickman commanded IV Corps from August to September of 1918, to include the Saint-Mihiel Offensive in September 1918. Dickman commanded I Corps from October to November 1918, to include the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Third Army was established under the command of Dickman by General John J. Pershing in France to advance to the Rhein and hold the Coblenz bridgehead, then prepare to serve after the war as the Army of Occupation. The Third Army would have become the Army of Occupation whether or not the enemy signed the peace agreement. American fighting units not sent home were consolidated under Third Army and prepared to attack if Germany did not accept the terms of peace. The United States itself was not to sign the agreement but remained technically at war with Germany for two more years. Dickman returned from World War I to serve as President of the Tactics and Organization Board, which reported on lessons learned during the war from April-July 1919. Dickman served as Commanding General of the VIII Corps Area from 1919-21 He retired on October 6, 1921. He was later recalled to preside over postwar-Army downsizing board in 1922. His memoirs were published in 1927. He died in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 1928.
    Text from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Digital ID: cph 3c22292 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
    Bill Gonyo
    Dickman 27k USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26 / APA-13) identification drawing, prepared during World War II.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH NH 99293
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Orizaba 106k Looking aft from the flight deck of USS Ranger (CV-4) is USS Orizaba (AP-24), center, with USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) steaming in column astern, while en route to Cape Town, South Africa, 21 November 1941. A Vought SB2U scout bomber, of Scouting Squadron 41 (VS-41) is parked at right. Visible on the flight deck is the letter "G" of Ranger's pre-war identification marking "RNGR".
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-466194, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Robert Hurst
    Leonard Wood 112k USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26), upper left, and USS Leonard Wood (AP-25), foreground, in Hampton Roads, 12 September 1942. These two ships were the only transports of this class to have only three goalpost masts while in Naval service. APA 12-17 and AP 42-43 all received four Welin triple davits per side during their initial conversion or soon thereafter.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo # 19-N-34527. A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13)
    Joseph T. Dickman 75k Port side view of USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) class camouflage Measure 32 Design 14T.
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft" by Norman Friedman.
    Robert Hurst
    Joseph T. Dickman 134k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) underway in April 1942. Her camouflage is Measure 32R.
    US Navy photo #: NH 99278 from the collections of the Naval Historand Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Joseph T. Dickman 46k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) underway, 8 April 1943, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Joseph T. Dickman 63k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor while disembarking troops, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Joseph T. Dickman 57k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor while disembarking troops, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Joe Radigan, MACM USN Ret
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301327
    NA 205579186
    673k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) rides an anchor during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in the Dime area off Gela, Sicily. Wounded were brought back to the ship 11 July 1943 between 0800 and 1100 hours while other soldiers aboard the ship await their turn to join the the forces ashore. Note the ship in the background, probably the Liberty ship SS Robert Rowan.
    US National Archives Identifier 205579186, Local ID 26-G-1796, U.S. Coast Guard Photo # 26-G-1796, US National Archives Identifier 205579198, Local Identifier 26-G-1805, U.S. Coast Guard photo # 26-G-1805 and US National Archives Identifier 205579267, Local Identifier 26-G-1804, U.S. Coast Guard photo # 26-G-1804
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301328
    NA 205579198
    352k
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301331
    NA 205579267
    342k
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301323
    326k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor during Operation Husky, in the Gela landing, Dime area. At approximately 1545 German Luftwaffe twin engine medium bombers conduct a high level attack in spread formation performing a patterned bombing attack on the transport area. Consensus of ships reports concludes an average altitude of about 10,000 feet. Number of aircraft between 15 to 30 aircraft. No direct hits were received but minor damage was sustained and six men were wounded by fragments. The damage consisted of numerous holes through the side ranging up to 4" in diameter and many dents and small holes in the superstructure. Ship in the background is (probably) HMS Prince Charles, Landing Ship Infantry.
    Ref. USS Joseph T. Dickman - Report of Operation Husky, 7/10-12/43.
    US National Archives Identifier 205579171, Local ID 26-G-1790, U.S. Coast Guard Photo # 26-G-1790.
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301324
    263k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor during Operation Husky, in the Gela landing, Dime area. At approximate 1545, 11 July 1943. German dive bombers in an air raid on the convoy hit the Liberty ship SS Robert Rowan. The fire, started by bombs dropped amidships, spread rapidly to the ship's munitions supply, which exploded to form dangerous though picturesque patterns across the Mediterranean. Dickman's boats with portable fire pumps were dispatched to her assistance. It was too late to use the pumps but the boats picked up 92 survivors and brought them aboard Dickman. Dickman weighed anchor to clear SS Robert Rowan and was about 1,000 yards off when Rowan blew up.
    Note the large number of people along the starboard side of the Robert Rowan. There were among the crew over three hundred U.S. Army personnel, forty-six navy personnel and forty-one crewmen. All survived due to the efforts of the boats sent by Dickson and other transport ships and the destroyer USS McLanahan (DD-615).
    US National Archives Identifier National Archives ID 205579231, Local Identifier 26-G-1918. US Coast Guard Photo # 26-G-1918.
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301325
    NA 26-G-2006
    239k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) had weighted anchor and was about 1,000 yards away from the Liberty ship SS Robert Rowan when she blew up at approximately 1702 hours, 11 July 1943, during Operation Huskey while anchored off Gela Sicily in the Dime area.
    US National Archives Local Identifier 26-G-2006, US Coast Guard Photo # 26-G-2006,
    TimeLife_image_588340. Photo by Bob Landry
    US National Archives Identifier 205579222, Local ID 26-G-1915, U.S. Coast Guard 26-G-1915.
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301326
    TL 588340
    298k
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301329
    NA 205579222
    563k
    Joseph T. Dickman 133k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor circa 11 July 1943, Operation Husky, Gela landing, Dime area.
    A US Coast Guard photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. US National Archives photo 26-G-12-14-43(4) from the US Coast Guard Collection in the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301319
    268k LCVPs from USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) landing vehicles through the surf during Operation Husky at Gela, Sicily, 11 July 1943. The truck in the center appears to have stalled.
    US Coast Guard Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Photo #: 26-G-1788
    David Upton and
    Robert Hurst
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301330
    283k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) rides an anchor during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in the Dime area off Gela, Sicily. while wounded soldiers are brought back from the beach to the ship, 11 July 1943 between 1220 and 1700 hours.
    US National Archives Identifier 205579264, Local ID 26-G-1803, U.S. Coast Guard Photo # 26-G-1803
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301332
    318k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) disembarking wounded in the first days of the invasion of Sicily at Algiers, Algeria, 15 July 1943. USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) carried Army contingents participating in the first wave of the invasion to Sicily.
    Ref. USS Joseph T. Dickman War History, National Archives.
    US National Archives Identifier 205579180, Local ID 26-G-1795, U.S. Coast Guard 26-G-1795.
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman 123k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at anchor in Loch Long, near Gourock, Scotland in 1944. Harry Harvey
    Joseph T. Dickman 98k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) in port during World War II.
    US Navy photo # NH 99277 from "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.
    Robert Hurst
    Joseph T. Dickman 57k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at sea in convoy with other transports, probably at the time of the Southern France invasion, August 1944. Photographed from USS Quincy (CA-71).
    A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.US National Archives photo #: 80-G-K-1947 (Color).
    Mike Green
    Joseph T. Dickman 68k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13)'s LCVP No. 25, among other LCVPs, being loaded with men and equipment during the first days of June 1944 at one of the "hards" (paved strips running to the water's edge) in southern England for the invasion of Normandy.
    US Army Signal Corps photo.
    Ramon Jackson
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301320
    237k LCT(5)-489 in the center background, behind Rhino Barge RB-24 which is loaded with ambulances in the Bay of Seine, France, 14 June 1944. In the foreground, astern of LCT(5)-467 helping to unload the troops from the transport to the landing craft, are several LCVPs including LCVP 13-22 belonging to USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) loaded with infantry on there way ashore.
    Photo by USS Joseph T. Dickman Coast Guard photographer Shelley Smith.
    Ref. USS Joseph T. Dickman War Diary, 6/1-30/44, page 9, US National Archives Identifier 78502763, U.S. Coast Guard Photograph 2414, . National Archives Identifier 205578585, Local Identifier 26-G-2414
    David Upton
    Joseph T. Dickman 294k USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) unloading a jeep into her LCM No. 2 while anchored off the invasion beaches at Normandy, circa June 1944. Tommy Trampp
    Joseph T. Dickman
    100301333
    173k Red Cross ladies boarding USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) at an unknown location for a voyage to Southern France, circa 1944. Red Cross workers followed the Army throughout WWII.
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration # 26-G-040-067-001 a U.S. Coast Guard Public Relations Photo now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.
    Thierry de Villeneuve la Colette
    Joseph T. Dickman 333k Drawing of USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) showing 1945 armament configuration.
    By Dr. John A. Tilley from "U.S. Amphibious Ship and Craft" by Norman Friedman.
    Robert Hurt

    USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Harwood, Charles William, USCG10 June 1941 - 27 July 1943
    02CAPT. Mauerman, Raymond Joseph, USCG :VADM27 July 1943 - 26 August 1944
    03CAPT. Leamy, Frank Ashton, USCG :RADM26 August 1944 - 29 January 1946
    04CDR. Morrison, Donald Gregor, USCG :VADM29 January 1946 - 7 March 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Joseph T. Dickman APA-13, U.S. Coast Guard Historians Office
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    Last Updated 16 February 2024