USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)

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Career	Image:US Naval Jack.svg
Image:USS Point Cruz;0311901.jpg
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Laid down:	4 December 1944
Launched:	18 May 1945
Commissioned:	16 October 1945 26 July 1951 23 August 1965
Decommissioned:	30 June 1947 31 August 1956
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USS Point Cruz (CVE-119), an escort carrier named Trocadero Bay until 5 June 1944, was laid down on 4 December 1944 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Incorporated, Tacoma, Washington; launched on 18 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Earl R. DeLong; and commissioned on 16 October 1945, with Captain D. T. Day in command.

Following acceptance and shakedown, she conducted pilot qualifications off the West Coast from October 1945 to March 1946. Thereafter she ferried aircraft to forward bases in WestPac. She entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 3 March 1947 for inactivation; decommissioned on 30 June 1947 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, Washington.

After the start of hostilities in Korea the ship was activated and recommissioned on 26 July 1951, with Captain Horace Butterfield in command. Point Cruz departed CONUS 4 January 1953 after coastal operations and an extensive overhaul modifying her for use as an anti-submarine warfare Hunter-Killer Group carrier.

Based at Sasebo, Japan, Point Cruz patroled the Korean coast in the spring of 1953. After the armistice, her helicopter squadron took part in Operation Platform, airlifting Indian troops to the Panmunjom buffer zone to supervise the Prisoner Of War exchange.

The CVE returned to San Diego in late December 1953, and after training and additional overhaul deployed to WestPac again on April 1954, under the command of Captain John T. Hayward. Captain Frederick J. Brush assumed command of the ship in May 1954. In the Far East the carrier served as command ship for Carrier Division 17 under Rear Admiral James S. Russell.

The ship returned to San Diego in November 1954, and deployed again on 24 August 1955. While in the Pacific operating with the 7th Fleet, she served as flagship of Carrier Division 15. Point Cruz departed Yokosuka on 31 January 1956 and arrived at Long Beach, California, in early February for inactivation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Decommissioned on 31 August 1956, CVE-119 was placed in the Bremerton Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. While in a reserve status, she was redesignated an aircraft transport, AKV-19, on 17 May 1957.

Point Cruz was reactivated on 23 August 1965 and placed under the operational control of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Point Cruz (T-AKV-19) in September 1965. Commencing service as an aircraft ferry for MSTS, Point Cruz provided logistical support for American forces in South East Asia.

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