- USS Gold Star (AK-12)
USS "Gold Star" (AK-12) was a
cargo ship acquired by theU.S. Navy for service inWorld War II . She was responsible for delivering necessary goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone.Renamed Gold Star
"Gold Star" (AK-12) was built in 1920 by
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp.,Wilmington, Delaware : taken over by the Navy as "Arcturus" from the USSB8 November [1921] ; commissioned as "Arcturus" (AK-12)1 February 1922 atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , Lt. Comdr. J. Katterfield,USNRF , in command and 5 days later renamed "Gold Star" (AK-12) on6 February . The ship was reclassified AG-12,12 May 1922 .Post-World War I operations
Renamed "Gold Star" sailed from Philadelphia
18 March 1922 , arrivingSeattle, Washington ,1 July via thePanama Canal Zone andCalifornia ports. During the next 2 years she served as a cargo ship on theU.S. West Coast , making three voyages with supplies forAlaska nradio stations. The ship steamed out ofSan Francisco, California ,9 October 1924 to assume her duties as station ship atGuam , arriving3 November .An Asia specialist
During the 1920s and 1930's "Gold Star" became a familiar sight in the far-flung ports of
Asia . Though assigned asflagship at Guam she made frequent voyages to Japan,China , and thePhilippines with cargo and passengers. Prior toWorld War II , much of her crew was made up ofChamorros , natives ofGuam . [Lademan (January 1973) p.68]In the Philippines when World War II started
When the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor ,7 December 1941 , "Gold Star" was coaling atMalangas ,Philippine Islands . [Lademan (January 1973) pp.71-72] She sailed forManila 8 December , but was ordered by Commander,Asiatic Fleet , to proceed toBalikpapan ,Borneo . [Lademan (January 1973) p.73-74] She arrived14 December as the Japanese advanced quickly southward; and after issuing urgently-needed provisions to units of the Asiatic Fleet there, steamed by way ofMacassar ,Celebes , toDarwin, Australia . [Lademan (January 1973) p.76] Following her arrival at Darwin28 December , "Gold Star" served as a coastal cargo carrier, steaming between such Australian ports asBrisbane , Sydney, andFremantle . She thus contributed importantly to strengtheningAustralia and to checking the Japanese advance inNew Guinea . After15 August 1943 the veteran ship continued her coastal operations in Australia, but also began a series of cargo voyages to New Guinea and theAdmiralty Islands . "Gold Star" brought many loads of vital supplies toMilne Bay as the Allies began the push toward thePhilippines .Supporting American invasion forces
The ship arrived
Manus Island 6 January 1945 for repairs and conversion to squadron flagship forService Squadron 9. Operating in this capacity the old ship supported the mounting American advance toward Japan, sailing toLeyte andMorotai . While conducting cargo operations at Morotai28 June "Gold Star" was attacked by enemy aircraft but sustained no damage. She arrivedManila 26 July viaTawitawi and remained there issuing supplies until the surrender of Japan15 August 1945 .End-of-war activity
After supporting occupation forces in Japan, "Gold Star" sailed to
Seattle, Washington , in February 1946 and decommissioned there17 April 1946 . She had served over 21 years in the WesternPacific Ocean without once returning to theUnited States , and had carried countless tons of supplies, items large and small, for the warships of the fleet. The old ship was delivered to theMaritime Commission 30 June 1946 , and was sold for scrap1 December 1947 to Dulien Steel Products, Inc.Military awards and honors
"Gold Star" received one
battle star for World War II service. Her crew members were entitled to the following medals:
* Combat Action Ribbon (28JUN45)
* American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp)
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp)Notes
References
*
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49012.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-12 Arcturus - AK-12 Gold Star - AG-12 Gold Star]
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