From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

An Army name retained. George W. Goethals, see General G. W. Goethals.

(T-AP - 182: dp. 10,418; l. 489'; b. 69'6"; dr. 27'4"; s. 16.5 k.; trp. 1,976; a. none; T. C3-IN P & C )

George W Goethals (T-AP-182) was laid down under Maritime Commission contract 7 January 1941 by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss.; launched as Pascagoula 23 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Hermes F. Cautier; delivered to the Army 18 September 1942; and renamed George W. Goethals.

During World War II George W Goethals operated as an Army transport out of New York, Boston, and Gulf Coast ports to ports in North Africa, France, and the United Kingdom. After the war, she continued transatlantic runs carrying military dependents between the United States and Europe.

Acquired by the Navy 1 March 1950, the transport was assigned to MSTS. Manned by a civilian crew, George W. Goethals continued trooplift and passenger voyages out of New York. During the Korean conflict she helped to maintain American military strength in Europe and the Middle East. Transporting troops and military cargo, she steamed to England, Germany, North Africa, Italy, Greece, and Turkey during European and Mediterranean deployments. In addition, she rotated troops to American bases in the Caribbean. In 1953, for example, she completed 12 round-trip voyages out of New York to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Canal Zone.

Between 1955 and 1959 George W Goethals continued a busy, far-ranging deployment schedule. During this period she deployed 18 times to ports in Western Europe and three times to the Mediterranean, and she completed 30 round trips to the Caribbean. Placed in a ready reserve status from 15 December 1958 to 21 February 1959, she made a run to Bremerhaven and back during February and March. In the next 6 months, she deployed to the Caribbean seven times. After returning to New York 29 September 1959, she was inactivated. Transferred to the Maritime Administration 20 November 1960 she entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet. At present she is berthed in the Hudson River at Jones Point, N.Y.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)