USS Hewell (AG-145)

USS "Hewell" (AG-145/AKL-14) was a "Camano"-class cargo ship constructed for the U.S. Army as USAT "FS-391" shortly before the end of World War II and later acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1948. She was configured as a transport and cargo ship and served with the U.S. Pacific Fleet – including highly-decorated service during the Korean War -- until decommissioned in 1955.

Built in Los Angeles, California

"Hewell" (AG-145) was launched in 1944 by United States Concrete Pipe Corp., Los Angeles, California; served the United States Army as "Freight and Supply (FS)-391"; acquired by the Navy 2 February 1948, reclassified as a miscellaneous auxiliary and commissioned at Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1948, Lt. (j.g.) John W. Hinkleman in command.

Service with the Pacific Fleet

"Hewell's" shakedown cruise initially took her across the central Pacific Ocean to Midway Islands, Guam and Saipan. Attached to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, Hewell carried supplies between Navy bases throughout the central Pacific.

Redesignated a light cargo ship or "AKL-14" in June 1949 she continued her duties of transporting cargo among the Pacific Islands, including the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands.

Korean War operations

After the North Korean communist attack on South Korea in June 1950 "Hewell" shifted her base of operations to Japan in July, from there shuttling supplies and ammunition between Japan, Okinawa and Guam to Korea. The light cargo ship returned to her normal inter-island cargo carrying routine in October, remaining on that duty until August 1951 when she sailed to Pearl Harbor for overhaul.

From November 1951 to March of 1953, "Hewell" transported supplies and ammunition on the shuttle route from Japan and Korea, conducting an unglamorous but vital role in helping to keep United Nations forces in "beans and bullets." After another overhaul at Pearl Harbor in April and May 1953, the light cargo ship resumed supply runs from Japan for the troops in Korea. The end of hostilities in August 1953 did not end her supply missions and Hewell remained on that duty through mid-1954. In June of that year, she made a cruise through the central Pacific island bases before arriving at Pearl Harbor in July.

Filming the movie, Mister Roberts

In late August 1954 "Hewell" departed Hawaii for Midway Island, mooring at the Naval Base there on 28 August to help film the Warner Brothers movie Mister Roberts. The film, starring Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and Jack Lemmon, was partially shot on board "Hewell", with underway footage filmed off Midway harbor between 1-16 September. The light cargo ship then sailed back to Hawaii between 24-29 September and additional film was shot off Kaneohe Bay between 30 September and 7 October.

Inactivation and sale

Shortly thereafter, "Hewell" sailed east to Astoria, Oregon, remaining there until she decommissioned 15 March 1955 and joined the Columbia River Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. "Hewell" remained there until 1 November 1959 when she was stricken from the Navy list and sold to Steve Pickard 2 June 1960.

Honors and awards

"Hewell" received seven battle stars for Korean service:
* North Korean Aggression
* Communist China Aggression
* Inchon Landing
* Second Korean Winter
* Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
* Third Korean Winter
* Korean Summer-Fall 1953

See also

* United States Navy
* World War II
* Mister Roberts (film)

References

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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49145.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - FS-391 - AG-145 / AKL-14 Hewell]