From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, born 12 November 1815 in Johnstown, N.Y., was one of the foremost leaders in the American suffragist movement and a well-known abolitionist. She authored a resolution which, when accepted by a meeting in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848, became the first organized demand in the United States by women for the ballot. She served as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association from 1865 to 1893. Mrs. Stanton died in New York, N.Y., 2 October 1902.

(AP - 69: dp. 7,980; l. 492'; b. 69'6"; dr. 28'6"; s. 18 k.; cpl. 429; a. 4 3"; cl. Elizabeth C. Stanton)

Elizabeth C. Stanton (AP-69) was launched 22 December 1939 as Sea Star by Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Richard J. Welch; transferred to the Navy 13 September 1942; and commissioned 17 September 1942, Commander D. A. Frost, USN (Ret.), in command.

Sailing from Norfolk 24 October 1942, Elizabeth C. Stanton quickly landed her troops and equipment for the assault on north Africa 8 November and got underway for the States within the week. After another rapid voyage to north Africa to support the troops fighting ashore, she returned to Norfolk 24 April 1943 and the following day became flagship for amphibious exercises in Chesapeake Bay.

On 10 May 1943 Elizabeth C. Stanton sailed again for the Mediterranean, where she saw action during the invasion of Sicily 8 July. She remained off the island discharging troops and combat cargo, and fighting off enemy aircraft for 6 days. She returned to Algeria to prepare for the next operation, and on 9 September landed her troops at Salerno in the initial assault. Until the end of October, she carried reinforcement troops from Bizerte and Oran to Naples for the capture and occupation of Italy, then sailed for New York and overhaul.

When Elizabeth C. Stanton returned to transport duty in January 1944, preparations were underway for the June invasion of Normandy; she made two voyages to carry troops and cargo for the huge buildup in the British Isles. On 14 March she departed Belfast for Algeria, carried troops to Naples, took part in amphibious exercises and antisubmarine patrols until August. Then she saw action in the initial landings on the coast of southern France. She continued to support this operation by deploying troops and cargo throughout the Mediterranean until returning to the States 8 November 1944.

After overhaul at New York, Elizabeth C. Stanton sailed for the Pacific 4 January 1945, and arrived at Espiritu Santo 23 February. Assigned to redeploy troops in the central and South Pacific, she sailed from Pearl Harbor to the New Hebrides, Marianas, Marshalls, Solomons, Carolines and Okinawa Gunto. Arriving San Francisco 11 July briefly for repairs, she sailed in August to transport troops for the occupation of Japan. She returned to the west coast late in 1945. On 20 January 1946 she carried from Long Beach an unusual passenger list, 1,800 German prisoners of war with their Army guards, for Liverpool and Le Havre. She returned to New York 5 March, was decommissioned 3 April 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission the same day.

Elizabeth C. Stanton received five battle stars for World War II service.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.fr)