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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AP-79 / APA-34 Bolivar

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)

Bayfield Class Transport:

Laid down, 13 March 1942, as SS Sea Angel, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 269) at Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.

Launched, 7 September 1942

Assigned to the Navy as Transport (AP-79)

Redesignated Attack Transport (APA-34), 1 February 1943

Acquired by the Navy, 15 March 1943 and placed in reduced commission the same day for transit to her conversion yard at Hoboken, N.J., Lcdr. R. E. Perry in command

Decommissioned, 23 April 1943, at Hoboken, N.J. for conversion to an Attack Transport

Recommissioned, 1 September 1943, as USS Bolivar (APA-34), Capt. Joseph A. Gainard in command

During WWII Bolivar was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Marshall Islands operation Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31January 8 February 1943	Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 20 June 1944 Capture and occupation of Guam, 22 to 29 July 1944	Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 6 March 1945
Leyte operation Leyte landings, 20 to 21 October and 18 November 1944	.

Decommissioned, 29 April 1946, at New York Naval Shipyard

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 12 September 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 19 July 1946

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 12 September 1946

Leased in 1948, to American President Lines, renamed SS President Van Buren, later SS President Harding

Sold to Pacific Far East Lines (date unknown) renamed SSThailand Bear

Sold (date unknown) renamed SS Santa Monica

Final Disposition, scrapped in 1972

Bolivar received five battle stars for her World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 8,100 t.(lt), 16,100 t.(fl)
Length 492' 6"
Beam 69' 6"
Draft 26' 6"
Speed 18 kts.
Complement

51 Officers

524 Enlisted
Flag Accommodation

43 officers

108 Enlisted
Troop Accommodation

80 Officers

1,146 Enlisted
Cargo Capacity 200,000 cu. ft., 4,700 t.
Boats

12 LCVPs

4 LCM (Mk-6)s

3 LCP(L) (MK-IV)s
Armament

two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, one fore and one aft

two single 40mm AA gun mounts

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts