Now, that's interesting. Do you suppose your wife knows the name of the transport her grandfather served on? (I'll bet it was August 42 instead of 41.)
His flagship was the USS Heywood. He transported troops for landings at Attu, Guadalcanal, Kweijaheln, Tarawa, Philipines and Okinawa and he was the first flagship in Nagasaki and received the surrender in his wardroom.
Transport ships of the 2nd Marine Division for the Tarawa invasion.
Capt. H. B. Knowles, USN
Trans Div 4 CT 2 (2nd Marines
APA Zeilin LT 2/2 (2nd Bn, 2nd Marines)
APA Heywood LT 2/8 (2nd Bn, 8th Marines)
APA Middelton LT 3/2 (3rd Bn, 2nd Marines)
APA Biddle LT Hq/2nd Marines
APA Lee LT 1/2 (1st Bn, 2nd Marines)
APA Thuban LT Detachments CT 8
Trans Div 18 CT 8 (8th Marines)
APA Monrovia LT 3/8 (3rd Bn, 8th Marines)
APA Sheridan LT 1/8 (1st Bn, 8th Marines)
APA La Salle Division Troops
APA Doyen Division Troops
APA Virgo Detachments CT 8
LSD Ashland * Medium Tanks
Trans Div 6 CT (6th Marines)
APA Harris LT 3/6 (3rd Bn, 6th Mariines)
APA Bell LT 2/6 (2nd Bn, 6th Marines)
APA Ormsby LT Hq/6th Marines
APA Feland LT 1/6 (1st Bn, 6th Marines)
APA Bellatrix Detachments CT 6
* Joined the transport group at Villa Harbor, Efate.
Source: Appendix E, p.79, Stockman, James R. The Battle for Tarawa. 1947.