USS COLONIAL was named after Colonial National Historical Park in
Virginia and Jamestown Island, the site of the first permanent English
settlement in North America. COLONIAL was built by the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia and was launched on 28
February 1945. Upon completion and fitting out at the Norfolk Navy
Yard, COLONIAL was commissioned on 15 March 1945 with Commander John
A. PATERSON as the first Commanding Officer. After a shakedown cruise
on Chesapeake Bay, COLONIAL reported to the Chief of Naval Operations
for duty on 16 June 1945.
By orders of Commander Service Force, Atlantic Fleet COLONIAL was
ordered to New York for loading and onward routing to the Pacific.
Although VJ Day was declared before COLONIAL reached the Far East, she
continued her trip westward and visited Guadalcanal, the Philippines,
Okinawa, and the Marianas Islands before returning to Norfolk, Virginia,
via Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Through 1947, 1948 and 1949, COLONIAL
participated in several amphibious training exercises, operating along
the East Coast from Cuba and Puerto Rico northward to Newfoundland.
When the Korean War broke out in June 1950 COLONIAL was dispatched
immediately to the West Coast for further routing to the Far East.
COLONIAL initiated her Korean service by landing tank elements of the
First Marine Division during support operations of the now memorable
"Inchon Landings" in September 1950. Later mechanized and troop
elements were landed at Wonsan and in December of 1950, COLONIAL was
one of the last ships to leave Hungnam in the brilliant evacuation of
that area. On Completion of a month of mine sweeping duty along the
eastern coast of Korea, COLONIAL started home having spent a full year
of duty in the Far East.
During September and October 1951, COLONIAL completed a shipyard
overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipvard, Vallejo, California after
which she returned to San Diego, California for underway training.
In January 1952 COLONIAL was dispatched once more to the Far East
for duty. During this tour COLONIAL participated in mine sweeping
operations off Wonsan Harbor and amphibious training exercises in
the WestPac area. Upon completion of this tour COLONIAL returned
home, arriving in San Diego in November 1952.
From 1 January to May 1953 COLONIAL participated in various training
exercises in the San Diego area. After a two month yard overhaul,
COLONIAL transported Marine elements to Korea in August and arrived
back in the United States the following month.
In October 1953 COLONIAL once more was underway for a tour in the
Far East and returned to San Diego in June 1954 having participated in
training operations with Marines in WescPac. June through December 1954
was spent conducting experimental amphibious operations involving
heavier equipment and helicopters.
