The Rijndam was launched in 1901 and built by by Harland & Wolf Ltd., Belfast, Ireland, as a passenger liner for the Nederlandsche-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Mastschappij (Holland American Line), for the Rotterdam to New York service. She was 12,527 gross tons, 575 feet in length and 62 feet wide. She was coal powered steam triple expansion engines with twin screws. Her service speed was 15 knots. She carried 2,282 passengers with 286 first class, 196 second class and 1,800 third class.

The Rijndam was on the way from New York to Rotterdam when Germany called the unlimited U-boat war on February 1, 1917. Returning to New York she was interned and seized (pursuant to the right of angary) in March, 1918 by U.S. Customs officials along with 88 other Dutch vessels, 31 of which entered U.S. Navy service. Rijndam was commissioned on May 1, 1918 at New York as a troopship, Comdr. John J. Hannigan in command.

She departed New York on May 10, 1918 in a 13 ship East bound convoy on the first of six voyages to Europe before war’s end. The other ships in the convoy were: Antigone, Kursk, Duca d' Aosta, Pastores, President Lincolin, Caserta, Lenape, Wilhelmina, Covington, Devinsk, Rijndam, and the Dante Alighieri. Converted to a troopship, Rijndam could carry nearly 3,200 soldiers. During the War period, she transported almost 18,000 troops to Europe, and after the Armistice, carried nearly 21,000 troops back from Europe. She landed troops and supplies at Brest on five occasions and once at St. Nazaire. Rijndam was nearly torpedoed on May 31, 1918, at the same time as the transport President Lincoln was sunk. Avoiding the torpedo attack, she nearly rammed a German U-boat cruising at periscope depth. Following the Armistice, Rijndam made seven round trip voyages between Quiberon, St. Nazaire, and Brest transporting AEF servicemen back home.

On July 1, 1918 the Rijndam was sailing in a convoy when the USS Covington was torpedoed and sunk the next day. The transports in this convoy were Dekalb, Covington, George Washington, Rijndam, Lenape, Dante Aleghieri, Princess Matoika and Wilhelmina. The escorting destroyers were Little, Conner, Cummings, Porter, Jarvis, Smith and Reid.

The 61st Field Artillery Brigade, the 111th Ammunition Train, less that detachment with the main body of the 36th division, and the 111th Trench Mortar Battery had left Coetquidan in the latter part of February, 1919, and had been "dipped" for cooties at St. Nazaire where they were loaded aboard the Rijndam, the Aeolus, Kroonland, De Kalb, and the Arcadia for what, except for seasickness, proved to be an uneventful voyage to America. At least one coal-burner, the Aeolus, which carried some 1,400 men of Colonel Birkhead’s 131st Artillery Regiment, stopped by the Azores for coal and water.

The 114th MG BN embarked for the States on the Rijndam at 9:00 a.m. on March 9 and after squally weather, rough seas and seasickness, landed at Newport News, VA at 8 O'clock in the morning on March 20, 1919. On 13 April 1919 the Rijndam was reported as being in St. Nazaire, France.

On 15 May 1919 the 88th Division (less Artillery) with the Engineers moved to the port at St. Nazaire, France, where on Monday, 19 May 1919, the entire Second Battalion together with other elements of the 88th Division embarks on the Rijndam bound for Newport News, Virginia.

Rijndam completed her service upon arrival in New York from Brest on August 4, 1919. She was transferred from the Cruiser and Transport Force on August 11, 1919 to the 3rd Naval District. Rijndam was decommissioned and returned to her former owner on October 22, 1919 at New York. Rijndam returned to her mercantile career under the Dutch flag, remaining active back on the Rotterdam to New York service until she was scrapped in Holland in 1929.

The above post card shows the Dutch liner Rijndam after she collided with a cargo ship off the east coast of the U.S. on May 26, 1915. The USS Texas assisted the ship to a safe return to port.

Seaman 2c, Mc Henry Wood, USNRF

Mc Henry Wood was a Seaman Second Class and was stationed on the USS Rijndam during WWI. Mc Henry's daughter, Maxine Cox shared this story and photo of her father. Mc Henry's Discharge from the USS Rijndam dated 2 May 1919, Norfolk, Virginia, reads as follows. From: Commanding Officer To: McH. Wood, S2c, USNRF Subject: Release from Active Duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. Reference: (a) Bureau of Navigation Circular Letter No. 3-19 of 5 January 1919. (b) ALNAV 85. 1. You are hereby relieved from all duty you may be performing on board the USS Rijndam and will proceed immediately to your home and reguard yourself relieved from active duty in accordance with reference (a) subject to recall in case of future national emergency. 2. Your latest address on record to date is Oakville, KY. Keep the Commandant of the 9th, 10th and 11th Naval District informed of any change therein. 3. A statement of your account and transportation is handed you herewith. It was signed by Howell the commander of the Rijndam and Pay Clerk G. H. Upton and stamped by Lt. jg F. M. Conrad, Pay Corps, USN. Seaman 2c, Mc Henry Wood was paid $60 gratuity and sent home.

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