Dade served as an attack transport of the Bayfield class, APA-99. Ingalls launched her at Pascagoula on 14 January 1944. She was built to embark Marines, combat cargo, and the landing boats that would carry both to a beach.
On 1 April 1945 she was in the Okinawa invasion landings. Marines went onto Blue Beach, and combat cargo went with them. Blue Beach was her sector of that opening day.
Air attacks came often while she lay off the beach. During the same hours she embarked casualties. The boats that had carried Marines in brought casualties back to the ship.
One battle star marks the wartime record for that day off Okinawa. She came through the air attacks and finished the landing.