From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Andre Walker Brewster, born 9 December 1862 at Hoboken, N.J., was commissioned 2d Lieutenant of Infantry in January 1885. He served at various posts in the western states until the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. During the Cuban campaign Brewster took part in the siege of Santiago with the 9th Infantry. Later he served with the 9th Regiment in the Battle of Tientsin, and other engagemements [sic; engagements] in China during the Boxer Rebellion. Brewster was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Tientsin 13 July 1900; and, after relative peace had been restored, he served as military attaché at Peking. Returning to the United States, Brewster was Inspector General until 1917 when he was assigned to Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force. Following his service in World War I, for which he received the Distinguished Service Medal, he assumed command of the 1st Corps Area, with headquarters in Boston, where he remained until his retirement 9 December 1925. Major General Brewster died at Boston 27 March 1942.

(AP - 155: dp. 9,930 (lt.); l. 522'10"; b. 71'6"; dr. 24'; s. 16 k.; cpl. 356; trp. 3,823; a. 4 5", 4 40mm., 16 20mm; cl. General G. O. Squier; T.C4-S-A1)

General A. W. Brewster (AP-155) was laid down 16 October 1944 under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co., Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, Calif.; launched 21 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Bert Hotchkiss; acquired and commissioned 23 April 1945, Comdr. E. E. Hahn, USCG, in command.

After shakedown out of San Diego, the transport sailed 28 May from San Pedro. Transiting the Panama Canal, she arrived Avonmouth, England, 20 June and embarked troops for Pacific ports. Sailing westward, General A. W. Brewster passed through the canal again and arrived Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, 27 July 1945. She then sailed to the Philippines, remaining there until after the capitulation of Japan. The ship embarked veterans and returned to San Francisco 1 September.

General A. W. Brewster made three additional voyages to the Far East in the immediate postwar period, bringing home thousands of servicemen. She decommissioned at San Francisco 10 April 1946 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission and later to Army Transportation Service for Pacific duty.

The ship was reacquired by the Navy 1 March 1950 and sailed for the Military Sea Transportation Service with a civilian crew. General A.W. Brewster made many voyages to Korea and Japan during the next 3 years, carrying more than 67,000 troops. In 1954 the ship was diverted to the coast of Indochina for Operation "Passage to Freedom." During September and November General A. W. Brewster and other navy ships brought thousands of freedom-loving refugees out of the northern sector of Vietnam as that unfortunate country was partitioned. Returning to San Francisco after this striking demonstration of the mobility of the American Navy's warships and logistic support units, the transport was placed in Reduced Operational Status in December 1954, and was returned to the Maritime Administration 26 July 1955. General A. W. Brewster was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Calif., where she remains.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)