- USS Palisana (AF-39)
USS Palisana (AF-39) was an "Adria"-class
stores ship acquired by theU.S. Navy for service inWorld War II . Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas."Palisana" was laid down by the
Pennsylvania Shipyards , Inc.,Beaumont, Texas ,28 August 1944 under contract with the U.S.Maritime Commission ; launched21 October 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs. Hugh R. Jones; delivered to theU.S. Navy on abareboat charter basis on22 March 1945 ; commissioned16 April 1945 , Lt. G. S. Dietrich in command.World War II service
Following shakedown, "Palisana" took on cargo in
Mobile, Alabama , transited thePanama Canal 18 May and proceeded toPearl Harbor where she joinedServRon 8,U.S. Pacific Fleet . She departedPearl Harbor 14 June bound forUlithi ,Caroline Islands .Okinawa operations
From there she sailed to
Okinawa with cargo for various ships of the fleet and army units ashore there. Under continuing threat of air attack, she remained at Okinawa until13 August when she returned toUlithi . Thence she steamed toNew Zealand and theMarianas . She transported returning servicemen toSeattle, Washington , in early November, returned to Okinawa22 January 1946 and carried out service missions to occupation forces inKorea andChina before returning toPuget Sound Navy Yard 26 March .Post-war decommissioning
"Palisana" was returned to the U.S.
Maritime Commission 22 May . She was struck from theNaval Register 19 June 1946 . She was then leased by the Maritime Commission for commercial service, to theAlaska Steamship Co., and renamed "Spirit". In1957 , she was purchased by an unknown company inTacoma, Washington . Friend Ships obtained "Spirit",2 October 1985 for humanitarian purposes and "Spirit" was still in service as of2005 .Military awards and honors
Navy records do not indicate
battle stars for "Palisana". However, her crew was eligible for the following:
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
*World War II Victory Medal
*Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*Cargo ship External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/06/0639.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AF-39 Palisana]
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