S. S. President Polk

Troop Transport for VMD-154

The President Polk was built in 1941 and used as a troop transport in the South Pacific during World War II. According to the VMD-154 timeline, the SS President Polk, AP-103, with thirty-five (35) enlisted men sailed from San Diego, California 9 February 1943, arriving at Espiritu Santo the 25th of February. Additional information is needed about squadron members arriving at Espiritu Santo on this transport.

VMD-154 Squadron Members Transported on the SS President Polk
Kostlan, Marvin Dale
Woodard, Norman E.

I went to Aviation Machinists school in Norman, Oklahoma and then back to North Island where I joined a casualty replacement squadron. We shipped out on the U.S.S. President Polk and went directly to Espiritu Santo in late 1942. We were split up there and I was assigned to VMD-154 and a plane maintenance crew. I did get to spend a short time on Guadalcanal when we had planes operating out of there.

Norman E. Woodard
"VMD-154 Newsletter" March/April 2002

I noticed you are looking for input of the President Polk voyage to the New Hebrides. I’m not sure if that organized as a draft of itself or what, but Sgt Marvin Kostlan from the Squadron Ordnance Section who worked on maintaining the aircraft turrets was one of those Marines who came out on the President Polk. I asked around a while back for anyone who might have been on board. The 4th Raider Battalion (Jimmy Roosevelt’s Boys) was on aboard.

Semper Fi
Hubert O. Caloud
SgtMaj, USMC Retired
18 August 2004

Go to my website Dan Marsh's Marine Raider Page and click on the link on the left side of the page entitled MY OUTFIT. It is my account of my time in the 4th Raiders and may be of interest to you. The POLK left from Broadway docks and did not stop enroute to Santos. Thank you for your interest in the Raiders.

Dan Marsh
4DQ

Note from the webmaster: Sincere thanks to Dan and Louie Marsh for sharing their terrific website. Dan Marsh's account of his voyage on the Polk and life on Espiritu Santo can be found on the page entitled My Outfit, Part 2 Look for the sections entitled VOYAGERS and MUDDING THROUGH.

Listed below are additional links to information about the USS President Polk.

 APL Narrative History
Military Sea Transportation Service