USS Jason (AR-8)

The USS "Jason" (ARH-1) was: Laid down, 9 March 1942, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, California, as a Heavy-hull Repair Ship; Launched, 3 April 1943; Commissioned USS Jason (ARH-1), 19 June 1944, Capt. A. O. R. Bergesen in command; Redesignated Repair Ship (AR-8), 9 September 1957.

World War II Pacific Theatre Operations

"Jason" was commissioned as the United States accelerated its drive to push the Japanese back to their home islands. After brief shakedown and fitting out, the repair ship arrived Pearl Harbor 6 July 1944 on the first leg of her journey to the Pacific battle area. She arrived Purvis Bay in the Solomon Islands 17 August to commence operations with Service Squadron 10. Two months later she arrived Ulithi, where she was to spend the greater part of the war, performing the vital task of keeping the U.S. Navy's ships at peak strength and operating efficiency. For 7 months at Ulithi, as American forces captured island after island from the Japanese, "Jason", many times under enemy attack, repaired broken hulls, buckled decks and twisted bulkheads of every type of ship in the U.S. Navy. This floating shipyard turned seemingly hopeless battle wrecks into rejuvenated fighting ships again able to stand out gallantly in the final victorious months. As the action crept closer to Japan, "Jason" sailed for Leyte arriving there 28 May 1945. She remained there for the duration of the war continuing to service ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Post-World War II Operations

After the Japanese surrender, she joined a convoy of units from the U.S. 7th Fleet and arrived Jinsen, Korea, 8 September with the first occupation troops. She operated out of Jinsen, Korea, and Tsingtao, China until mid-February 1946, performing repair services and assisting in the evacuation of Japanese nationals. "Jason" returned to Terminal Island, California, 9 March for overhaul. Her rest was a brief one, however, as she sailed once again in May for the Far East. For the next 4 years she serviced the U.S. Pacific Fleet, alternating between Japan and California.

Korean War Operations

As the Communist menace grew bolder, and their regime in North Korea staged an overt act of aggression on South Korea, the United States responded to the challenge. American forces were dispatched to the area, and naval power played an important role in the conflict. With an increased number of ships in the Far East, " Jason" departed Oakland, California, 22 July 1950 for Sasebo and immediately began service duties upon her arrival in August. Throughout the war she remained at Sasebo for extended periods performing the vital repair tasks at hand, with only brief overhaul periods in the United States. Following the cessation of hostilities in Korea, "Jason" returned to San Diego, California, 6 November 1953. Six months later she sailed for another WestPac deployment which included a goodwill tour to Chin Hae, Korea. It was during this cruise, that the Chinese Communists began to harass the Nationalist-held Tachen Island. The powerful U.S. 7th Fleet, which "Jason" helped maintain, sent units into the area to make certain the peace was not violated. She returned to San Diego, California, 13 February 1955 and commenced repair services off the West Coast of the United States. Her next Far Eastern tour began January 1956, and she operated, in Japan, Okinawa, and Formosa before returning to San Diego, California, late October. While on still another deployment to Sasebo she was redesignated AR-8 on 9 September 1957. As "Jason" was about to return home, a near crisis flared in Indonesia, and the U.S. 7th Fleet kept watch on the potential trouble spot. Following her return to San Diego, California, 14 February 1958, she operated there throughout the year, giving valuable service to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Vietnam War Operations

USS Jason was dispatched to the Far East 6 January 1959 and operated there until returning to San Diego, California, 18 August. Her departure occurred prior to the deployment of a carrier task group in the area of Laos, as Communist insurgency once again threatened the peace. During "Jason"'s 1960 deployment, the Communists renewed their drive to undermine the neutral government of Laos, and the mighty U.S. 7th Fleet was again called to peace-keeping duties. Following her return to San Diego, California, 7 March 1961, "Jason" operated along the West Coast of the United States providing repair services through 1962. Another deployment with WestPac began 3 January 1963, as the Communists turned their attention on Vietnam. The U.S. 7th Fleet became a main cog in our determination to prevent Southeast Asia from falling into the hands of Communist-inspired despots. In the years since World War II, "Jason' was an important factor in keeping this force at maximum operating condition. She returned to San Diego, California, 7 July 1963 and serviced the U.S. Pacific Fleet along the West Coast through 1964.

West Coast Operations

"Jason" departed San Diego, California, 4 January 1965 and arrived Yokosuka, Japan,] on the 25th. After operations in Japan and at Okinawa, she reached Subic Bay 6 March and served ships of the U.S. 7th Fleet until heading home 31 August. The repair ship operated in ports of southern California until entering the Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington, for overhaul 4 March 1966. Back in top trim 6 June, USS Jason resumed U.S. West Coast operations until sailing for the WestPac 9 January 1967. She served the ships of the U.S. 7th Fleet at Sasebo, Japan, and in Subic Bay until returning to San Diego, California, 19 August.

Awards

USS Jason received a Korean Service Medal for her participation in the Korean War.

"Jason" earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service:

* Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V Campaign, 25 July to 16 August 1968.
* Vietnam Winter-Summer 1970 Campaign, 27 December 1969 to 21 January 1970.
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII Campaign, 23 March to 13 April 1971

Decommissioning

"Jason" was: Decommissioned, and Struck from the Naval Register, 24 June 1995; Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, California; Final Disposition, contract awarded, 9 November 2006, to Marine Metal Inc, Brownsville, Texas. for scrapping. Removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, 8 January 2007 for scrapping at Marine Metal Inc, Brownsville, Texas;

At the time of her decommissioning, "Jason" was (with the exception of USS|Constitution) the oldest ship in continual commission in the United States Navy, and the final ship in continual commission from World War II onward.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j2/jason-ii.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/25/2508.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ARH-1 / AR-8 Jason]