| Transports steam in column off Pavuvu, August 1944, probably during exercises preceding the Palaus operation. Photographed from USS Fayette (APA-43), looking forward, showing her kingposts and Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP)s stowed on deck. USS Pinkney (APH-2) is the last ship in Section 3, followed by USS Elmore (APA-42) and USS DuPage (APA-41), the 1st 2 ships in Section 4. Task Unit 57.18.14 was dissolved on August 17, 1944, and USS Fayette sailed for the Russell Islands with Transport Division 14 and accompanying escorts that same day. She docked in Berth E17 in Sunlight Channel between Pavuvu and Mbanika at 1146 Hours. The next day, she embarked the advanced platoon of the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division to prepare for invasion rehearsals for the Peleliu operation. She took on the entire 11th Marine Regiment and elements of the 7th Marines by August 25. The landing rehearsal was executed the next day and the 11th Marines left for Peleiiu on Fayette after that. During March 1944, the 1st Marine Division established their divisional camp area to the west of Pepasala Point, on the next peninsula over from “Red Beach” along Patty Bay where the 3rd Raider Battalion landed on Pavuvu on February 21, 1943. Prewar, this area was a coconut palm plantation. The camp area included a tent city for Marines, Amtrak and vehicle park. Between March 1944 until September 1944, Marines were station on Pavuvu to recover and refit after Cape Gloucester until they departed for the invasion of Peleliu. Afterwards, Pavuvu was used as a staging area for the invasion of Okinawa. Postwar, little trace of the camp remains, and it has been replanted with palm trees. These attack transports were attached to 3rd Fleet, Task Force 32, Task Group 32.3, Task Unit 32.3.2. USS Fayette was temporarily attached to Transport Division 6 for the Peleliu operation. United States Navy Commander John Campbell “Rebel” Lester (July 4, 1900 – July 11, 1984) commanded both Fayette. Captain Thomas B. Brittain Sr. (December 13, 1898 – April 12, 1974) commanded both Task Group 32.3 and Transport Division 24 in USS DuPage. Elmore was also part of Transport Division 24. Pinkney was assigned to Transport Division 8. Fayette was laid down as Steamship Sea Hawk, Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull, and assigned to the Navy as a Transport and renamed Fayette (AP-88) and Reclassified as Attack Transport (APA-43), on February 1, 1943. Acquired by the United States Navy on April 30, 1943, she was decommissioned on May 13, 1943, for conversion into an Attack Transport. Recommissioned USS Fayette (APA-43) on October 14, 1943. Assigned to the Pacific Theatre, USS Fayette served in the Marshalls, Marianas, Carolines, Leyte, Luzon, and Iwo Jima, earning 6 battle stars for World War II service. She was assigned to occupation in China in October 1945 and decommissioned on March 6, 1946. Struck from the Naval Register on May 1, 1946, she was laid up in reserve on May 15, 1946. Sold as Steamship Robin Gray on July 22, 1947, to Moore McCormack Lines; sold as Steamship Gray on April 7. 1971 and scrapped on January 24, 1972, by Keun Hwa Iron & Steel Works & Enterprises, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China. Pinkney was laid down as Steamship Alcoa Corsair, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S1-A1) hull, at Moore Dry Dock Company of Oakland California. Launched on December 4, 1941, into the Napa River, she was originally named Mercy by the Untied States Navy on May 23, 1942, until renamed Pinkney on August 13, 1942. USS Pinkney was commissioned on November 27, 1942. Assigned to the Pacific Theatre, Pinkney earned 4 Battle Stars for World War II service in the Carolines, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Pinkney was assigned to occupation duty in China from November 9 – December 1, 1945, and January 5-17, 1946. Decommissioned April 4, 1946, at Seattle Washington, she was struck from the Naval Register on September 9, 1946. Converted to a transport at Puget Sound Shipbuilding, she was transferred to the United States Army and renamed USAT Private Elden H. Johnson. She was transferred to the Navy on March 1, 1950, and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184). Placed out of service on December 27, 1957, and placed in reserve the next day in the Hudson River Fleet. Sold for scrapping on September 28, 1970, to Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corporation, Taiwan, care of Nisso-Iwai American Corporation. in a 4 ship sale for $746,667.00 on August 18, 1970. Withdrawn from the Hudson River Reserve Fleet on January 2, 1971, under tow by Japanese tug Amaryllis enroute for Taiwan. Elmore was laid down as steamship Sea Panther, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Launched into the Gulf of Mexico on January 29, 1943, reclassified as an Attack Transport on February 1, 1943; placed in partial commission on March 1, 1943, for transit to her fitting out yard at Maryland Dry Dock Company, Baltimore, Maryland. Decommissioned April 13, 1943, and recommissioned August 1943 as USS Elmore. During World War II, USS Elmore was assigned to the Pacific Theatre and earned 8 Battle Starts for service in the Marshalls, Bismarcks, Marianas, Carolines, Leyte, Luzon, Manila Bay-Bicol, and Okinawa. She served twice in China occupation operations; September 2 – October 16, 1945, and October 28 – November 1, 1945. Decommissioned on March 13, 1946, at Mobile Alabama, she was struck from the Naval Register. Her name reverted Steamship Sea Panther on May 15, 1946, and she was listed for disposal by the Maritime Commission. Sold for commercial service to Pacific Transport Lines on May 22, 1947, she was renamed SS China transport. When she was sold to States Steamship Company, she was renamed Steamship Oregon. Renamed Steamship Idaho on December 30, 1959. Title transferred to the Maritime Commission on May 20, 1966, and the ship returned on August 4, 1969. Laid up at Olympia, Washington. Sold for scrapping to American Ship Dismantlers Incorporated for $73,111.00 on April 13, 1971. DuPage was laid down as steamship Sea Hound, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-2A) hull, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Launched into the Gulf of Mexico on November 6, 1942, she was redesignated an Attack Transport on February 1, 1943. Placed in partial commission February 28 – March 17, 1943, for transit to Todd Erie Basin Dry Dock, Brooklyn, New York, she was decommissioned on arrival. Recommissioned as USS DuPage (APA-41) on September 1, 1943. DuPage earned 7 Battle Stars for World War II service in the Pacific Theatre: the Marshalls, the Bismarcks, the Marianas, the Carolines, Manila Bay-Bicol, Leyte, and Luzon. DuPage was assigned to China occupation duty on October 26-30, 1945. Decommissioned on March 28, 1946, in New York City, she was struck from the Naval Register on April 17, 1946. She was returned to the Naval Register on June 27, 1946, for disposal. Acquired by the Pope and Talbot Steamship Company, she was renamed the steamship Pope and Talbot Pathfinder in 1946. Acquired by Moore-McCormack in 1957, she was renamed steamship Mormacsun. Acquired by Central Gulf Lines in 1964, she was renamed steamship Green Port. Acquired by States-Marine Line in 1967 and renamed steamship Pine Tree State. The ship was sold for scrapping on May 7, 1973, to Li Chong Steel and Iron Works, Limited, Kaosiung, Taiwan. Photographed by 1st Lieutenant Harry F. McBride (February 21, 1912 – September 4, 1981), Battalion Transportation Officer, of Hudson City, New Jersey; attached to Headquarters and Support Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. McBride enlisted on February 12, 1942, as a Private, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1943. He was allowed to remain with the 11th Marines. Wounded in action, he received the Purple Heart. He was discharged on May 9, 1946, as a Major. He worked for American Can Company after World War II. In addition to McBride taking photos, Fayette carried the War Correspondents Sergeant Robert F. Greenhalgh (January 25, 1915 – October 16, 2017), of Chicago, illustrator for Yank Magazine; Howard M. Norton (May 30, 1911 – March 12, 1994) writer for the Baltimore Sun; and Associated Press reporter William L. Worden (January 15, 1910 – July 1, 1982) to cover the Peleliu invasion. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1968.jpg |
| Image Size | 123.32 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 700 x 500 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Pavuvu |
| Country | Russells |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | USMC 94719 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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