City, N.C. The ship was involved in LANTFLEX 1-55 in November off Onslow Beach. Alshain began her last year of active duty, 1955, by picking up elements of the Fleet Marine Force at Morehead City. On 7 January 1955, she left the east coast en route to the Mediterranean. Alshain touched at Mers El Kébir, Algeria, on the 20th. She was then involved in amphibious operations in the Gulf of Arzew off Algeria. The ship continued on to visit Genoa and Naples, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Athens and Phaleron Bay, Greece; Suda Bay, Crete; Cannes and Marseilles, France; Porto Scudo, Sardinia; and Barcelona, Spain. Alshain left Barcelona on 14 May and shaped a course back to the United States. Upon her arrival at Norfolk on the 28th, the ship began a period of leave and upkeep. Decommissioning and scrapping, 1955–1978 Alshain got underway in late June for Philadelphia. She entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 1 July to undergo pre-inactivation overhaul. The work was completed in early October, and the vessel proceeded to Orange, Texas, where she was placed in a reserve status on 12 October 1955. The ship was decommissioned on 14 January 1956. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 1 July 1960. She was transferred to the Maritime Administration and laid up at Beaumont, Texas. She was sold for scrap on 16 February 1978. Awards USS Alshain earned five battle stars for her World War II service, and as USNS Alshain three battle stars for Korean War service. References Strickland, B.W. The Story of the Mighty Al External links Military.com: USS Alshain 51 Years of AKAs Andromeda-class attack cargo ships Ships built in Kearny, New Jersey 1944 ships World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Cold War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Korean War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States