From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

A former name retained.

Nelson Macy Walker, born 27 September 1891 at Pittsfield, Mass., attended Officers Training Camp, Plattsburg, N.Y., and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve 15 August 1917. He went to France with the 47th Infantry Regiment in April 1918 and participated in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. He was wounded in action 5 July 1918. He continued action with the American forces in Germany until July 1919 when he returned to the United States. During the next 18 years he was stationed at various Army posts in the United States. From July 1937 until August 1938, he served with the 15th Infantry in Tientsin, China. After the entry of the United States into World War II, he was assigned to Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, in Washington, D.C. Promoted Brigadier General 11 September 1942, he became Assistant Division Commander, 8th Infantry Division, in November 1943. He was killed in France 10 July 1944 during the invasion of Western Europe.

Admiral H. T. Mayo (AP-125) (q. v.) was reacquired by the Navy from the Army Transport Service as General Nelson M. Walker 1 March 1950 and assigned to MSTS.

After the outbreak of the Korean conflict, General Nelson M. Walker transported men and equipment from the West Coast to the Pacific staging areas. On 31 May 1952 her Pacific runs were interrupted when she sailed for the East Coast, arriving Norfolk 14 June. Following two cruises to Bremerhaven, General Nelson M. Walker returned to her West Coast-Far East cruises.

She continued these operations until 28 November 1955 when she was placed in a reduced operational status. Departing San Francisco 9 January 1957, she sailed through the Panama Canal and on to Bremerhaven, where she embarked Hungarian refugees for transport to New York. Arriving there 14 February, General Nelson M. Walker was transferred to the Maritime Administration and placed in ready reserve status. Berthed in the Hudson River, she joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet 20 January 1959.

During the rapid buildup of American forces in Vietnam, it was necessary to reactivate additional ships to facilitate the flow of troops and equipment to Southeast Asia. General Nelson M. Walker was transferred to MSTS 14 August 1965, and from December 1965 to August 1966 she made five cruises from San Francisco to Japan, Okinawa, and Vietnam. She continued this vital duty carrying troops to Vietnam to bolster Allied forces fighting Communism through mid-1967 and is scheduled to carry on the task through the end of the year.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)