USS Lyon (AP-71) - World War II

World War II

The Lyon departed from Newport News, Virginia on October 22, 1942 to assist in the invasion of French Morocco, taking part in the largest assembly of ships ever assembled at the time. The Lyon safely crossed the Atlantic Ocean, encountering none of the U-boats which were a major danger at the time. The ship arrived at Safi on November 7.

While ships of the western task force of Operation Torch silenced French shore batteries and naval resistance, troops of the western pincer were landed to trap the retreating Afrika Korps of General Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox". Though a cease-fire was negotiated on November 11, German U-boats interfered, and torpedo attacks began November 10. Since the 15 transports and cargo ships anchored in Fedhala Roads offered a target, they were removed to the security of Casablanca. The Lyon was part of a convoy that sailed for the United States on November 15, and arrived back in Norfolk on the November 24.

From December 13, 1942 to March 11, 1943, Lyon made two voyages between New York City and Oran, Algeria, transporting reinforcements for the campaign in North Africa. The ship was then ordered to duty with Atlantic Amphibious Force for several weeks, and returned to Africa on May 23 to participate in amphibious training exercises until June 28.

Lyon next departed Mers el Kebir, Algiers on July 6, with units of the Army's 1st Infantry Division for the assault on Gela, Sicily. The troops on the Lyon disembarked safely in stormy weather on July 10 for the initial advance into what had been called Europe's "soft underbelly". The vessel sailed from the battle area on July 12 and arrived back in Algeria three days later to prepare for the next assignment, the Salerno landings.

Operation Avalanche was launched on September 9. The landings were successful despite heavy enemy fire, air attacks, and complications resulting from a false report of Italy's surrender. The Lyon returned to Oran on September 14 and for the next two months reinforced American forces fighting in the Naples area. The ship departed the Mediterranean Sea on November 7 and arrived in New York City on November 21 for overhaul.

In January 1944, the Lyon transported 2,000 Army Air Corps and Army Medical Corps personnel to Scotland, returning to New York City on January 28. The Lyon then departed for North Africa via England, making two voyages to Naples before beginning five months of training.

She sailed from Naples on August 13 as part of a combined British-French-United States operation to land in the St. Tropez area of southern France. Lyon received her fourth battle star here where the Allied landings overwhelmed opposition at this “back door” to Europe. The ship continued to reinforce these landings until October 24 when she again departed for New York.

Arriving November 8, she prepared for Pacific duty, and sailed from New York on December 26. Lyon embarked combat forces in San Francisco in January 1945, and departed for the invasion of Okinawa.

Lyon successfully completed her role in this major attack in the face of kamikaze attacks, and returned to San Francisco on May 21. She departed Seattle, Washington, on June 2 to reinforce Okinawa, sailing via Honolulu, Eniwetok, and Ulithi. Lyon arrived off Okinawa on July 14 and was immediately forced out to sea by a typhoon. For two days her convoy was exposed to enemy submarine and kamikaze attacks, but the proximity of Admiral William Halsey, Jr.’s 3rd Fleet diverted potential attackers. She returned to Okinawa on July 21 and embarked veteran marines bound for Guam to prepare for the planned assault on the Japanese home islands. She returned to the west coast on August 14.

Lyon received five battle stars for World War II service.