after shakedown off florida, "lst-853" departed new orleans for the pacific 19 january 1945. she loaded troops and equipment on the west coast before steaming from seattle 10 march. sailing via pearl harbor, eniwetok, and guam, she arrived at saipan 25 april. the landing ship embarked units of the 1878th engineer aviation battalion, then sailed on the 27th for okinawa. arriving 6 days later in the midst of enemy air raids, "lst-853" discharged men and equipment on this strategic base which lay at the gateway to japan.