USS Henderson (AP-1)

The first USS "Henderson" (AP-1) was a transport in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. In 1943, she was converted to a hospital ship and commissioned as USS "Bountiful" (AH-9).

Named for Marine General Archibald Henderson, she was launched by Philadelphia Navy Yard 17 June 1916; sponsored by Miss Genevieve W. Taylor, great-granddaughter of General Henderson; and commissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 24 May 1917, Lt. C. W. Steel in command.

"Henderson" arrived New York 12 June 1917 and sailed 2 days later with Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves' Cruiser and Transport Force, which carried units of the Allied Expeditionary Force to France. In her holds she had space for 1,500 men and 24 mules. Reaching St. Nazaire 27 June she disembarked troops and returned to Philadelphia 17 July 1917. Subsequently, "Henderson" made eight more voyages to France with troops and supplies for the allies in the bitter European fighting. She established two large base hospitals in France during 1917. In constant danger from submarines, the transport was steaming near Army transport 17 October 1917 when the latter was torpedoed. "Henderson" escaped attack by wrapping herself in an envelope of smoke. But torpedoes were not her only danger. She sailed for her seventh voyage on June 30, 1918 to France. A serious fire broke out in a cargo hold on July 02, 1918. Destroyers "Mayrant" and "Paul Jones" transferred her troop passengers to nearby transports without loss of life, and determined firefighting crews soon brought the flames under control.

Following the armistice, "Henderson" made eight more transatlantic voyages bringing home members of the A.E.F. She carried more than 10,000 veterans before returning to Philadelphia 27 December 1919. She then took up duty as troop rotation ship for Marine units in the Caribbean, carrying Marines, their dependents, and supplies to bases in Cuba, Haiti, and other islands. She also participated in Marine training maneuvers in Florida before returning to Philadelphia 6 July 1920. After an extended period of repairs, the transport resumed her duties in the Caribbean. This was interrupted 21 June to 21 July as "Henderson" carried military and civilian leaders to observe the historic bombing tests off the Virginia Capes.

During the next few years, she also performed ceremonial duties, embarking a congressional party to observe fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean in the Spring of 1923, and carrying President Warren G. Harding on an inspection tour of Alaska. The President called at Wrangell, Juneau, and Sitka, reviewed the fleet off Seattle from the deck of "Henderson", and departed 27 July 1923, only five days before his death.

During Fleet Problem III in early 1924, "Henderson" participated in a mock amphibious invasion of the Panama Canal Zone. This major training operation by the fleet helped practice assault techniques and led to improved landing craft as well. The ship also aided in the protection of American interests in the volatile Caribbean states and in the Far East.

"Henderson" arrived Shanghai 2 May 1927 with Marines for the garrison there, and remained in China for six months protecting American nationals in the war torn country. Here members of her crew became the originators of the "Golden Dragons." Membership in this deep sea organization is dependent upon cruising back and forth across the international date line. The troop transport was engaged in carrying replacements for the fleet and the Marines in China for the next fourteen years.

"Henderson" had left Pearl Harbor to transport troops to California not long before the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. On hearing of the attack, the captain feared that the Japanese flotilla would continue on to California, having eliminated any opposition from Hawaii. "Henderson" would be a slow, conspicuous, and solitary target in their path. He set course for Alaska to avoid being overcome, maintaining strict radio silence even in the face of repeated attempts by the Navy to contact the ship and verify its survival. "Henderson" then hugged the Pacific Northwest coast down to San Francisco Bay, arriving several days after it had been presumed missing in action. During the Pacific War, "Henderson" continued its service as a transport between California and Hawaii, making over 20 such voyages with fighting men, civilian passengers, and cargo. On her last voyage she departed Port Hueneme 18 July 1943 and arrived Noumea with 71 much-needed nurses. The transport then sailed to the Solomon Islands with SeaBees before returning to San Francisco 24 September 1943.

As USS "Bountiful"

"Henderson" decommissioned 13 October 1943 for conversion to a hospital ship at General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California. She commissioned as "Bountiful" (AH-9) 23 March 1944, Comdr. G. L. Burns in command.

"Bountiful" departed San Francisco 1 April 1944 for Honolulu, returned later that month, and sailed once more 1 May for the western Pacific. After brief service at Honolulu and Eniwetok the ship arrived 18 June at the Saipan invasion beaches. She made three passages to the hospitals on Kwajalein with casualties of the Marianas invasions. About this time "Bountiful" established one of the few blood banks in a Naval ship.

The floating hospital remained at Manus until 17 September when she sailed for the Palaus to bring casualties of the Peleliu landing to hospitals in the Solomons. After November "Bountiful" operated between Leyte and the rear bases carrying veterans of the Philippines campaign. She departed Manus 24 February 1945 for Ulithi and Saipan to receive casualties of the bitter Iwo Jima assault, and in the next months sailed to rendezvous with the fleet to take on wounded from Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the fleet units themselves. Returning to Leyte Gulf 15 June, she remained until 21 July, and then got underway for California. "Bountiful" arrived after war's end, sailing into San Francisco Bay 21 August 1945.

"Bountiful" was then assigned as hospital ship at Yokosuka, Japan, departing San Francisco 1 November 1945. She arrived 24 November to support the occupation forces, and remained until 27 March 1946 when she sailed for San Francisco. After delivering her patients, the ship sailed 26 May for the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, and after providing medical services during the series of nuclear blasts during Operation Crossroads, she returned to Seattle 15 August 1946.

"Bountiful" decommissioned 13 September 1946, and was sold for scrap by the Maritime Commission 28 January 1948 to Consolidated Builders, Inc., Seattle.

"Bountiful" received four battle stars for World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h4/henderson-i.htm