From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

George F. Elliott, born 30 November 1846 in Alabama, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1870 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After serving at Washington, D.C., he fought in the Spanish American War; in a spirited engagement with the enemy near Cuzco Valley. Marines led by Captain Elliott were victorious and returned to their camp at Guantanamo Bay. On 21 May 1908 he was appointed Major General and Commandant of the Marine Corps, a position he filled with distinction until his retirement 30 November 1910. General Elliott died 4 November 1931 in Washington, D.C.

(AP - 105: dp. 14,247; l. 491'; b. 65'; dr. 25'8"; s. 17.8 k; cpl. 302; trp. 1,908; a. 1 5", 4 3", 16 20 mm., 10 .50 cal.; cl. George F. Elliott)

The second George F. Elliott (AP-105), formerly SS Delbrasil, was built in 1339 by Bethlehem Steel, Sparrows Point, Md.; acquired 25 August 1943; and commissioned 23 September 1943, Comdr. A. J. Couble in command.

From 3 October 1943 to 31 January 1944 two troop carrying voyages out of San Diego brought fighting men to Noumea, Guadalcanal, and Espiritu Santo. Subsequently, George F. Elliott left San Francisco 18 February to embark cargo and over 1,700 sailors and marines at Port Hueneme. She steamed thence to Havannah Harbor, New Hebrides, arriving 9 March, and for the next 2 months made troop shuttle voyages between Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, Manus, and New Guinea before putting in at Pearl Harbor 7 May 1944.

On 29 May George F. Elliott departed with attack Group 1 of Task Force 52 for the invasion of the strategic island of Saipan and closed the island's west coast 15 June for D-day. She was ordered to join a diversionary assault force staging a demonstration landing to the northwest to divert the enemy from the real landing beaches. Despite air attack she sent troops away and unloaded cargo until getting underway 22 June for Makin Atoll, Tarawa, Apamama, Pearl Harbor, and finally San Diego, reaching there 17 July.

Following a troop transport voyage to Pearl Harbor and return, George F. Elliott made another trip to Pearl Harbor, she sailed from there 15 September for Eniwetok, Manus, and Leyte, reaching the latter port in time for D-day, 20 October 1944. She debarked troops and cargo though harrassed [sic; harassed] by air attacks, getting underway 24 October with mission accomplished and closing Hollandia the 29th. George F. Elliott brought troops and supplies from Wakde Island, New Guinea; and Hollandia in early November, and after embarking more cargo and passengers at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, reached Manus 21 December. She sailed for Lingayen Gulf 31 December and, after witnessing a kamikaze crash carrier Kitkun Bay and numerous attacks on other ships off Luzon, reached her destination 9 January 1945 as part of the D-day invasion of Lingayen Gulf.

Discharging men and equipment, the ship sailed at once for Leyte, Manus, and Wake Island, loaded the 33d Infantry Division at the latter port, and debarked it at Lingayen Gulf 10 February, Subsequently steaming to Ulithi she embarked Marine reinforcements destined for Iwo Jima and closed that island 18 March. Loading veterans, she sailed for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, steaming under the Golden Gate 22 April 1945 to commence repairs.

A round-trip voyage out of San Francisco brought seabees from Port Huemene [sic; Hueneme] to Okinawa from 30 May-15 August 1945. As part of the "Magic-Carpet" fleet, George F. Elliott subsequently made three more round trips from San Francisco, respectively to Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka, and Korea, from 27 August 1945 to 18 January 1946, and her return to Seattle. Underway for Guam 14 February, she touched there 1 March and soon sailed for Norfolk, where she put in 3 April 1946 via the Panama Canal.

Decommissioned there 10 June 1946, she was delivered to the WSA the next day and struck from the Navy List 19 June 1946. George F. Elliott was sold to the Farrell Lines of New York in 1948 and renamed African Endeavor.

George F. Elliott was awarded four battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)