Lowndes (APA-154) served as an attack transport of the Haskell class. Oregon Shipbuilding at Portland built her, and the Navy commissioned her on 14 September 1944.
She carried Marines and a naval construction company into the Iwo Jima assault. The 3rd Battalion of the 23rd Marines was aboard, and with them C Company of the 133rd Naval Construction Battalion, embarked as their shore party.
On 19 February 1945 she lay off Iwo Jima along the southeast coast and lowered her boats. For eight days the beach party stayed on the sand, taking casualties off, salvaging boats, and clearing the beach.
Okinawa followed. On D-day morning, 1 April 1945, she reached the island and held out in the retirement area. On 12 April, with air raids overhead, she sent her troops and her cargo ashore.
Iwo Jima and Okinawa were the landings she served. She came through both. On 17 April 1946 she was decommissioned. Two battle stars stand on her wartime record.