S. S. Japara

Troop Transport for VMD-154

"The S.S. Japara was built in 1938 by the Dutch company Rotterdam Lloyd. It was chartered to the United States in 1941 and converted to a troop ship by 1943. The Japara was returned to Rotterdam Lloyd in 1946. In 1996, it was sold to Panama and renamed Celebes Mariner." Rotterdam Lloyd page of The Ships List.

The S.S. Japara was one of two ships that transported the main body of USMC Squadron VMD-154 to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides: "The main body of the squadron embarked on two ships in San Diego, the S. S. Japora and the S. S. Bleum Fonteine. The former left San Diego December 2, 1942 and arrived the 23rd at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. The latter, leaving San Diego the same day, December 2nd, went by way of New Caledonia where it arrived the 21st of December. It left there after Christmas on the 27th for Espiritu Santo, arriving there December 30, 1942. January 1, 1943 saw the squadron with a total of twenty-nine (29) officers and four hundred five (405) enlisted men."

Narrative written by
M. SAMPAS,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps,
Commanding.