"stratford" arrived at san pedro, california, on 28 august; loaded passengers; and sailed for hawaii three days later. she arrived there on the 11th and sailed the following week for samoa. the transport remained in the south pacific until april 1945. she shuttled troops and cargo from rear areas to advance bases and; as the americans penetrated further into the pacific, her ports of call increased. in addition to ports in new zealand and new caledonia, "stratford" also operated in the solomon, treasury, st. matthias, new hebrides, russell, and treasury islands as well as ports in new guinea.