From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,
Vol. VI (1976), pp. 76
Counties in Minnesota and North Dakota.
(APA-227: dp. 14,837; l. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 18 k.; em. 533; a. 1
5"; 12 40mm.; 26 20mm.; cl. Boulder Victory; T. VC2-S-AP5)
Renville (APA-227) was laid down 19 August 1944 as MCV hull 673 by
Kaiser Co., Vancouver, Wash., launched 25 October 1944, sponsored by Mrs.
Orpha Penderville; and commissioned 15 November 1944, Capt. William W. Ball
in command.
Following shakedown out of San Diego, Renville sailed in January
1945 for Guadalcanal, where in March she embarked 1,620 combat-ready troops
for the invasion of Okinawa. Her assault boats transported the troops to
the beach at Okinawa 1 April. Departing on the 5th, she steamed via Saipan
and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco. During the remainder of the war, she
transported troops and supplies between various Pacific Islands and the
United States. In September, she carried 1,436 Allied prisoners of war from
Japan to Manila. In 1946 she returned additional troops to the United States,
and then operated along the Pacific coast. Operating in the western Pacific,
she was ordered to Batavia, Java, in December 1947. Renville became
Headquarters ship for the U.N. Truce Commission that negotiated settlement
terms between Dutch military forces and Indonesian nationalists. The ensuing
agreement was denoted "The Renville Truce." After operating
off the west coast from May 1948 to January 1949, she voyaged to China later
in January, and returned 8 February.
Decommissioned 30 June 1949 at Mare Island, Calif. she recommissioned 5
January 1952 for service in the Korean War. Departing San Francisco for
the western Pacific 13 November 1952, she shuttled troops between Japan
and Korean ports such as Pusan and Inchon. After June 1953, she steamed
to San Diego.
Sailing for the western Pacific in September 1954, she carried marines to
Kobe, Japan, and conducted amphibious training in Korea, before returning
to San Diego 17 March 1955. Departing San Diego in August, she participated
in a landing exercise at Iwo Jima in February 1956, and returned to San
Diego in March. In January 1957, she joined a landing exercise at Camp Pendleton.
On WestPac tour from February to September, she joined a major landing exercise
on eastern Luzon in March and another in the Pohang-Dong area of Korea in
June.
After duty at Eniwetok from January to June 1958, she operated in the western
Pacific from October 1958 to March 1959. In May 1959 she joined a landing
exercise at Camp Pendleton. On WestPac tour from October 1959 to April 1960,
she was station ship at Hong Kong in January and February, and participated
in a joint landing exercise at Taiwan in March. Again in the Far East from
April to 5 December 1961, she sailed to Okinawa, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
and Yokosuka. Following west coast duties in early 1962, she headed for
the Caribbean 27 October 1962 in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, returning
to San Diego 13 December. Deployed to WestPac from December 1962 to May
1963, she ended 1963 in west coast operations.
Sailing for WestPac in June 1964, she participated in the filming on Oahu,
Hawaii, of Otto Preminger's "In Harm's Way" in July. In response
to the Gulf of Tonkin attack in August, she ranged the coast of Vietnam
from Da Nang to Saigon with 1,350 marines on alert status for 67 consecutive
days. Replenished at Yokosuka, she performed similar duty off Vietnam in
November, before returning to San Diego 18 December
After a landing exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in March 1965, her WestPac
tour of May to August took her to Hawaii, Okinawa, Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Sasebo,
and Yokosuka. After local duty, she began her WestPac tour of March 1966
to October, carrying marines to Okinawa and Chu Lai, Vietnam, before serving
as station ship at Da Nang in August and September.
In 1967 she prepared for deactivation. Transferred to Maritime Administration
23 April 1968, she joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay,
Calif., where she remained into 1973.
Renville received one battle star for World War II service, two for
Korea, and four for Vietnam.