General
Constructed under a Maritime Commission contract. Staffed by the Army's 214th Hospital Ship personnel.
1943
Launched on 25 March 1943.
1944
Commissioned 7 August. Departed San Pedro on 31 August heading to the South Pacific after being assigned to NTS to operate with the 5th and 7th Fleets. After calls at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, she arrived at Hollandia, New Guinea, 14 October. Five days later the hospital ship departed for the Philippines for the initial landing at Leyte on 20 October, arrived off Leyte Gulf the morning of 25 October to find the Battle for Leyte Gulf still raging for another day. Mercy moved to San Pedro Bay later the same day and embarked 400+ casualties, mostly from LSTs alongside. On the 26 October she sailed for the Admiralties, via Kossol Roads and arrived at Manus to disembark the wounded for transfer to base hospitals. During the next 5 months, Mercy completed seven more voyages from Leyte to Manus, or Hollandia.
1945
She transported the 3rd Field Hospital from New Guinea to Tacloban, Philippines, in early January. On 19 March Mercy reported to the 5th Fleet at Ulithi, Carolines, for service during the Okinawa campaign. She arrived off Okinawa the morning of 19 April with Solace (AH-5) and remained for four days at Hagushi Beach embarking patients despite frequent air raids and threat of Kamikazes. Mercy then got underway for Saipan, Marianas, on 23 April. She made two more voyages to Okinawa, returning from the latter to Saipan on 24 May. Mercy next embarked wounded from Leyte and Manila on two voyages to Biak, Schouten Islands, then returning to Manila 23 June for 2 months' duty as a stationary hospital. On 19 August she embarked the 227th Station Hospital assigned to the Korean Occupation Forces, and 3 days later departed for Korea via Okinawa, arriving at Jinsen on 9 September. On 14 November she arrived at San Pedro.
1946
Mercy returned to the central Pacific on 4 February, arriving at Pearl Harbor on the 12th for duty until 2 April when she returned to California. Mercy decommissioned at San Francisco on 17 May and was delivered to the War Department the same day. She was transferred to the U.S. Army on 20 June for further service as a hospital ship. On 25 September she was struck from the Navy list.
These specifications and ship histories are adapted from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (US Naval Historical Center) and from various other sources. These summaries may not reflect the most recent information concerning the ships' status or operations. If you find an error or discrepancy, please email me at troopships@pier90.org or fill out our online crossing submission form.
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