- USS Gualala (AOG-28)
USS "Gualala" (AOG-28) was a "Mettawee"-class
gasoline tanker acquired by theU.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations."Gualala" was launched
3 June 1944 , by theEast Coast Ship Yard Inc.,Bayonne, New Jersey , under aMaritime Commission contract; acquired by the Navy19 August 1944 ; and commissioned25 August 1944 , Lt. Gerald T. Allworth,USCG , in command.World War II service
After completing trials, "Gualala" sailed from
New York 23 October 1944 ; touching atGuantanamo, Cuba , and Christobal, she transited thePanama Canal 8 November , proceeding from there toBiak Island viaBora Bora andNew Guinea .Arriving
13 January 1945 , "Gualala" sailed the seas betweenBiak ,Morotai , andMios Woendi serving as a fueling ship for fleet units. Departing Mios Woendi4 June , she touched at Morotai before reachingBalikpapan ,Borneo , the 16th. "Gualala" continued her fueling duties throughout thePhilippines and atSaipan until26 December 1945 . when she sailed for San Francisco viaPearl Harbor .Post-war decommissioning
Arriving
San Francisco, California ,31 January 1946 , "Gualala" remained there until decommissioning29 March 1946 , at theKaiser Shipyard No. 2,Richmond, California . Her name was struck from theNavy List 1 May 1946 , and she was transferred to theMaritime Commission 10 September 1946 . The ship was subsequently sold to theBrazilian government , and renamed "Rijo". Final disposition: scrapped in 1970.Military awards and honors
"Gualala" received one
battle star forWorld War II service:
* Western New Guinea operationHer crew was eligible for the following medals:
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
*World War II Victory Medal References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/20/2028.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-28 Gualala]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.