From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

William George Haan, born at Crown Point, Ind., 4 October 1863, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1889. Commissioned Second Lieutenant of Artillery, he served at various posts until 1898 when he fought in the Philippines against the insurrectionists. Returning to the United States in 1901, Haan commanded artillery units and performed staff work until the American entry into World War I. During the war he commanded the 32d Division in France; and, after the Armistice, he headed the VII Corps on occupation duty in Germany. General Haan received the Distinguished Service Medal for World War I service; and, upon his return to the United States, he served on the General Staff in Washington until his retirement in 1922. Major General Haan died in Washington, D.C., 26 October 1924.

(AP - 158: dp. 9,950 (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 W. G. Haan (AP-158) was launched 20 March 1945 under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co. Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, Calif.; sponsored by Miss Helen Coxhead; acquired by the Navy and simultaneously commissioned 2 August 1945, Comdr. J. V. Rylander in command.

General W. G. Haan conducted shakedown training out of San Diego until after the surrender of Japan. Departing 4 September 1945 for the southwest Pacific, the transport touched at Eniwetok, Leyte and Manila before returning to Seattle with homecoming veterans 22 October. Subsequently, the ship made two voyages to Japan and the Philippines, bringing occupation troops and embarking returning servicemen. She returned to San Francisco after her last passage, and departed 30 April 1946 for the East Coast via the Panama Canal. Arriving Baltimore 25 May, General W. G. Haan decommissioned there 7 June 1946 and was returned to WSA for further transfer to the Army Transport Service.

Reacquired by the Navy 1 March 1950, General W. G. Haan was assigned to MSTS under a civilian crew. Until 1953 she operated under the International Refugee Organization and carried displaced East Europeans from northern European ports to the United States. In 1952 General W. G. Haan also made two support voyages to the American bases at Thule, Greenland, and Goose Bay, Labrador. Following this demanding duty, the ship made several voyages to Europe in support of American units. She continued this steaming schedule until March 1955 when she was placed in Reduced Operational Status at New York.

In December 1958 General W. G. Haan resumed duty as an refugee transport. Steaming from New York to Bremerhaven, Germany, she embarked refugees from the gallant, but ill-fated Hungarian Revolution and brought them to New York. On 7 January 1957 she was again placed in Reduced Operational Status. General W. G. Haan was subsequently placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, Tex., and was returned to the Maritime Administration 22 October 1958. She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at nearby Beaumont, where she remains.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)