American Legion AP-35 Displacement 13,729 Length 535'2" Beam 72' Draw 31'3" Speed 17.5 k Complement 682 Armament 1 5", 4 3" Class Wharton American Legion (AP-35) was launched in 1921 by; New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden N. J., for the Shipping Board as Badger State, later renamed American Legion transferred from the War Department 26 August 1941; and commissioned the same day, Captain T. Warner in command. Following one voyage to the West Indies and one to Halifax Nova Scotia, American Legion transferred to the Pacific in April 1942. She carried elements of the 1st marine Division during the Guadalcanal invasion August 1942. For the next 12 months American Legion made troop and supply runs between Guadalcanal; Tulagi; Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia; Tongatabu Pago Pago, Samoa; Noumea, New Caledonia; and Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand. She was reclassified APA 17, February 1943. On 1 November 1943 she took part in the invasion of Bougainille Island. When American Legion arrived at San Francisco 8 December 1943, she had steamed 83,140 miles since leaving New York. Following repairs and alterations at United Engineering Works Alameda, Calif. American Legion departed San Francisco 12 April 1944 for San Diego, where upon arrival she reported to Commander, Transport Training Division (later Transport Division 1), Amphibious Training, Pacific Based at Coronado, Calif., she helped train Army and Marine divisions in amphibious warfare August 1944. She made one voyage to the Western Pacific in the fall of 1945 and was decommissioned in the 13 Naval District 20 March 1946. She was returned to Army the same day. American Legion received two battle stars for her World War II service.