Edward Llewellyn Schleif, Captain, USS Hendry,  22 August 1945 - 21 February 1946.


1925 US Naval Academy graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering; 1933 Masters of Science and Masters of Arts Degrees from University of California, Berkeley.  Served in World II and Korea.  Born Apr 17,1902, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Died May 11, 1965, San Buno California. Buried Golden Gate National Cemetery.



1925 UN Naval Academy Yearbook:  Edward Llewellyn Schleif milwaukee, wisconsin " Llew " " Sergeant-Major " WHEN this hombre swings down the corridor with that seagoing roll (acquired in the cavalry) he looks rough as a file, hard as a juice exam, and as non-reg as the ship squad. In fact, his unconventional attitude towards the N. A. Regs and Bolshevik tendencies have given him plenty of publicity via the morning " pap " sheet a firm believer in the old slogan, " It pays to advertise. " And hard? Why he has all the plebes bluffed into thinking that he is the original armor-piercing projectile. This blood- thirsty pose, though, is only skin deep for he really has a very sweet and gentle disposition. " Llew " does not lay any claim to reptility and has broken away from the ranks of Red Mikes on but few occasions, always returning again to the fold. Some people say he is in love; we refuse to incriminate him. He answers that letter or so every day just the same, and at graduation wants to enter the Marine Corps — object, matrimony. He ad- mits that. If you want to hear a good yarn, ask him what he did in Philadelphia after the Army-Navy game youngster year. " Two bits_I hit the Dago tree. " Football (4, 2, 1); Varsity Numerals (2); Juice Gang (3, 2, 1); Masqueraders (3, 2, 1); Masqued N, Musical Clubs; Gymkhana. ”



 

  USS Hendry (APA-118), 1944-1946

USS Hendry, one of 117 attack transports of the 6,873-ton Haskell-class, was built to a modified Victory ship design at Portland, Oregon, and was commissioned in September 1944, Captain R.C. Welles in command.

Following a rigorous shakedown cruise the Hendry sailed 23 October for Pearl Harbor, arriving 29 October. The transport then took part in extended amphibious training operations.  She departed 11 December with troops to Midway, returning 9 days later, and got underway again 27 J
anuary, this time for the giant invasion of Iwo Jima.  Her troops were among the initial invasion forces early on the morning of 19 February, and for the 6 days that followed the Hendry unloaded troops and supplies on the beaches, retiring at night under escort protection. Her gunners were busy during this dangerous period; Japanese planes succeeded in sinking escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) and damaging USS Saratoga (CV-3).  The Hendry sailed for Saipan 25 February, arriving 3 days later to take part in the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific, the capture of Okinawa in Japan's back yard. She sailed 27 March as part of a mighty armada, called by British observers "the most audacious and complex enterprise yet undertaken by the American amphibious forces." Arriving Easter Sunday, the morning of the first landings, the Hendry put ashore her troops and for the next 10 days survived fierce kamikaze attacks, which took a heavy toll on American transports and escort vessels. Her gunners and those of the supporting ships kept the Hendry free from damage. The USS Hendry received two battle stars for World War II service.

After the Japanese surrender, the Hendry embarked occupation troops in the Philippines, and delivered them to Nagoya, Japan. She then carried out a "Magic Carpet" voyage, returning troops from the Philippines to San Francisco. After a voyage to Pearl Harbor and back, the Hendry departed San Diego for the East Coast in January 1946. She was decommissioned at Norfolk in February, and in March she was delivered to the Maritime Commission, placed in its reserve fleet, and stricken from the Navy List. She was sold for scrapping in 1973.