From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Barnwell is a county in South Carolina.

(APA-132: dp. 6720; l. 456'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; a. 17.7 k.; cpl. 692; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Barnwell (APA-132) was launched 30 September 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif., under a Maritime commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. M. L. Rhodes; transferred to the Navy 19 January 1946; and commissioned the same day, Captain M. M. Stephens in command.

In March 1945 Barnwell loaded cargo and embarked troops at San Diego and departed for Pearl Harbor arriving 29 March. Between April and June she participated in amphibious training maneuvers in the Hawaiian area and transported cargo and troops to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Guam and Saipan, Marianas Islands; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; and San Pedro Bay, Leyte. On 12 June she left the Philippine Islands for San Francisco, carry Navy and Marine personnel back to the mainland for rehabilitation and rotation.

On 14 July Barnwell departed San Francisco with Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard personnel, as well as mail and classified matter, which she disembarked in the Philippine and Admiralty Islands. During August and September she transported a Seabee battalion from New Caledonia and the New Hebrides to Sasebo, Japan, for occupation duty. In October she delivered Army personnel and cargo to Hiro Wan, Honshu, Japan, from the Philippines. Late in October Barnwell was ordered to "Magic Carpet" duty and sailed to Guam where she embarked nearly 2,000 officers and enlisted men and proceeded to Seattle, Wash., arriving 12 November 1946.

Barnwell was assigned to coastwise personnel transportation duty and operated on the west coast until 15 January 1946 when she was released and ordered to proceed to Norfolk to be placed in reserve. Barnwell was placed out of commission in reserve there 1 February 1947.