THOMAS JEFFERSON APA 30

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

President Jackson Class Transport Keel Laid 5 February 1940 as "SS PRESIDENT GARFIELD" Renamed prior to launching Launched 20 November 1940 Acquired by US Navy 1 May 1942 USS THOMAS JEFFERSON AP-60 Commissioned 31 August 1942 USS THOMAS JEFFERSON APA-30 Reclassified Attack Transport (APA) 1 February 1943 Assigned to MSTS 31 October 1949 Decommissioned 18 July 1955 Struck from Naval Register 1 October 1958 Transferred to Maritime Commission 1 October 1958 Sold 1 March 1973 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Thomas Jefferson APA-30 Covers Page 1    (1944-1947)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type 2(n)

1947-11-14

APA-30. Cover addressed to C.E. Moore, possible cover creator.

 

Locy Type 2# (Br. #15851)

1946-04-10

APA-30

 

Locy Type 3z (BTT)

1944-09-07

APA-30. Censored WWII use

 

Locy Type 9ef(nu)

1947-12-08

APA-30. Cacheted. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. T-14c

1947-01-24

APA-30. Cachet by B. Saunders Bullard

 

Other Information

USS THOMAS JEFFERSON earned the China Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 5 Battle stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Battle star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ Asia clasp, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal w/ 5 Campaign stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743-4 July 1826)
        Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, VA, and graduated from William and Mary College in 1762. He was admitted to the bar 5 years later. In 1769 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he soon became a leader of the patriot faction and helped form the Virginia Committee of Correspondence. He maintained that the colonies were not subject to Parliament but were bound to England only by allegiance to the Crown. Jefferson was sent to the Continental Congress in June 1775, and a year later he was entrusted with writing the Declaration of Independence. He returned to the Virginia legislature in October 1776 where he labored to reform the new state on democratic principles. He succeeded Patrick Henry as governor in 1779 and held that office until 1781. Jefferson succeeded Franklin as Minister to France in 1785 and, after his return in 1789, became the Nation's first Secretary of State. Growing differences with Alexander Hamilton prompted him to resign from Washington's cabinet 31 December 1793, and he subsequently led growing opposition to the Federalist party. From 1797 to 1801 he was Vice President and he defeated John Adams in the presidential election of 1800. Upon entering the White House, Jefferson introduced a more democratic tone to public life, and his two terms as Chief Executive were marked by careful administration and rare frugality. Highlights of his presidency included the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Navy's victory over the Barbary pirates. Their valiant and skillful fighting in the struggle with the North African corsairs gave American seamen some of their most colorful and cherished memories while strengthening the new nation's position as a power worthy of respect. In retirement Jefferson exerted great political and intellectual influence as he worked to establish the University of Virginia.

The ships sponsor was Miss Eugenia Merrill.

 

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