smoke screens helped protect the transport from almost continuous air attack, and after completing her mission Highlands sailed for Saipan 16 April. Arriving Saipan 20 April Highlands unloaded casualties and proceeded the next day to Ulithi. She departed 22 May for Guam and then Leyte, arriving in Leyte Gulf 31 May. The transport now busily prepared for the expected amphibious landings on the Japanese mainland, operations which were terminated by the Japanese surrender 15 August 1945. Highlands had been operating off Panay Island when the surrender came; she sailed 21 August to load occupation troops on Luzon. Highlands and other transports of her group entered Tokyo Bay the day of the formal ceremony, 2 September, and landed units of the 1st Cavalry Division on Japanese soil. Highlands returned to the Philippine Islands and Okinawa for more occupation troops in September and after the clearing of mines from Japan's inland sea landed troops at Kure 6 October. The veteran ship sailed 11 October for Okinawa and San Diego carrying returnees, arriving in the United States 2 November. She made an additional voyage to Japanese ports 17 November-26 December, returning to San Francisco, and departed 11 January 1946 for the Panama Canal and Norfolk. Highlands arrived Hampton Roads 26 January, decommissioned 14 February and was placed in the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Virginia. Fate Between 21 September and 23 November 1956 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet for a Repair Program, GAA- Farrell Lines, and returned. Ex-Highlands was sold for $111,560 to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation for scrapping on 9 April 1973. At 0935 EDT, on 11 June 1973 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker's yard. All that remains of Highlands is her brass builder's plate. Awards Highlands received two battle stars for World War II service. References External links US Naval Historical Center Highlands Photos Victory ships Ships built in Los Angeles Haskell-class attack transports World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Troop ships Highlands County, Florida 1944 ships