USNS Private Joe P. Martinez (T-AP-187)
Encyclopedia
USNS Private Joe P. Martinez (T-AP-187) was a built for the United States Navy
during the closing period of World War II. The ship was named after Private Joe P. Martinez
, a medal of honor
recipient.
on 25 June 1945 for conversion to a troop ship. As Stevens Victory, the ship was operated by Grace Lines out of New York City
in the Atlantic sea lanes
. Her ports of call included Boston and Newport, as well as Downs, Antwerp, Marseilles, Gibraltar, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Liverpool, and Southampton.
The ship was transferred from the Maritime Commission to the US Army on 5 September 1946. She was renamed Private Joe P. Martinez on 3 October 1947 and operated by the Army Transportation Service.
Private Joe P. Martinez transferred to the Navy on 1 March 1950 as T–AP–187 at New York. With the outbreak of war in Korea in June, there was a great need for transport tonnage in the Pacific. Shifting to San Francisco, Private Joe P. Martinez steamed for Okinawa and Yokohama on 31 July 1950, returning to Seattle on 2 September.
She immediately took on troops and supplies and again steamed for the Western Pacific, operating out of Japanese, Okinawan, and Korean ports. Private Joe P. Martinez made three additional cruises to the Western Pacific, departing Korean waters for the last time on 5 January 1951. She was laid up 1 September 1952 at Olympia. She was transferred from the Navy to the Maritime Administration on 30 September 1952 and struck from the Navy List on 6 November. Into 1970 she was laid up at Olympia in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
; her ultimate fate is unknown.
USS Private Joe P. Martinez received four battle stars for Korean service.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the closing period of World War II. The ship was named after Private Joe P. Martinez
Joe P. Martinez
Private Joe P. Martinez born in Taos, New Mexico, was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor — the United States' highest military decoration —- for his actions on the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Private Joseph P...
, a medal of honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient.
Career
The ship was laid down as Stevens Victory on 13 April 1945 and delivered to the United States Maritime CommissionUnited States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
on 25 June 1945 for conversion to a troop ship. As Stevens Victory, the ship was operated by Grace Lines out of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the Atlantic sea lanes
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Her ports of call included Boston and Newport, as well as Downs, Antwerp, Marseilles, Gibraltar, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Liverpool, and Southampton.
The ship was transferred from the Maritime Commission to the US Army on 5 September 1946. She was renamed Private Joe P. Martinez on 3 October 1947 and operated by the Army Transportation Service.
Private Joe P. Martinez transferred to the Navy on 1 March 1950 as T–AP–187 at New York. With the outbreak of war in Korea in June, there was a great need for transport tonnage in the Pacific. Shifting to San Francisco, Private Joe P. Martinez steamed for Okinawa and Yokohama on 31 July 1950, returning to Seattle on 2 September.
She immediately took on troops and supplies and again steamed for the Western Pacific, operating out of Japanese, Okinawan, and Korean ports. Private Joe P. Martinez made three additional cruises to the Western Pacific, departing Korean waters for the last time on 5 January 1951. She was laid up 1 September 1952 at Olympia. She was transferred from the Navy to the Maritime Administration on 30 September 1952 and struck from the Navy List on 6 November. Into 1970 she was laid up at Olympia in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
; her ultimate fate is unknown.
USS Private Joe P. Martinez received four battle stars for Korean service.