USS Henderson
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The first USS Henderson (AP-1) was a transport in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. In 1943, she was converted to a hospital ship and commissioned as USS Bountiful (AH-9). Named for Marine Colonel Archibald Henderson, she was launched by Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 June 1916; sponsored by Miss Genevieve W. Taylor, great-granddaughter of General Henderson; and commissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 24 May 1917, Lt. C. W. Steel in command.
Albert's Involvement
This was Albert's first ship to serve on. They were sailing from Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal with 500 Marines on board. These Marines were desperately needed to help reinforce the men already on the ground fighting off the Imperial Japanese Army. Shortly after dropping off the Marines on the island, they were hit by a Japanese torpedo, which sent Albert into the water. He was stuck in the ocean for two weeks on a raft with wounded sailors on board. While at sea, Japanese planes strafed them and sharks ate at the wounded.
