From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Stuart Heintzelman, born in New York, N.Y., 19 November 1876, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1899. He served with the 6th Cavalry in China during the Boxer Rebellion and in the Philippines during the insurrection. Subsequently stationed in South Dakota, the Philippines, and at Princeton University, during World War I he served with the A.E.F. in France and Italy. He participated in the French Chemin des Dames Offensive, in French operations in Italy, and as Chief of Staff, 2d Army Zone. After the war, General Heintzelman was on duty at Washington, D.C., Illinois, Hawaii, New York, and Kansas until his death at Hot Springs, Ark., 6 July 1935. For his services during World War I, General Heintzelman was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and Croix de Guerre with Palm and the Order of the Crown of Italy (Commendatore).

(AP - 159: dp. 9,950 (lt.); l. 522'10"; b. 71'6"; dr. 26'6"; s. 16.5 k.; cpl. 356; trp. 3,823; a. 4 5". 4 40mm., 16 20mm.; cl. General G. O. Squier; T. C4-S-A1)

General Stuart Heintzelman (AP-159) was launched under a Maritime Commission contract 21 April 1945 by Kaiser Co., Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. C. H . Wright; acquired by the Navy and simultaneously commissioned 12 September 1945, Comdr. M. S. Clark in command.

After shakedown out of San Diego, General Stuart Heintzelman departed San Pedro, Calif., 9 October 1945 and carried more than 3,000 occupation troops to Yokohama. Returning to Seattle 6 November with 3,100 veteran passengers, she made a similar voyage from Seattle to Japan and back again between 13 November and 9 December. On 28 December she sailed from Seattle on another "Magic-Carpet" run to Manila and Yokohama and returned to San Francisco 3 March 1946 with a full load of homeward-bound troops. Following a round-trip voyage from San Francisco to Manila and return, General Stuart Heintzelman steamed from the West Coast via Panama to New York, where she arrived 27 May. She decommissioned there 12 June and was returned to WSA for use as an Army transport by the Army Transport Service.

General Stuart Heintzelman was reacquired by the Navy 1 March 1950 and assigned to overseas transport duty under MSTS. Manned by a civilian crew, between July 1950 and December 1951 she operated out of San Francisco and steamed to the Far East carrying combat troops in support of the struggle to repel Communist aggression in Korea. In December 1951 she steamed from San Francisco to New York for transport duty in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. For more than 2 years she made passenger runs out of New York to Bremerhaven, Germany; La Pallice, France; Southampton, England; Argentia, Newfoundland; Reykjavik, Iceland; and San Juan, P.R.

On 24 June 1954 General Stuart Heintzelman was deactivated and assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, Tex. She was returned to the Maritime Administration in June 1960. At present, she is berthed with the National Defense Fleet, Beaumont, Tex.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)