Oglethorpe AKA-100

Oglethorpe
(AKA-100: dp 14,200,1. 459'2", b. 63', dr. 26'4" s. 16.5 k. cpl. 425; a. 1 5", 8 40 mm.; ol. Andromeda; T. C2-S-B1).

Oglethorpe (AKA-100) was laid down 26 December 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, under contract for the Maritime Commission. Transferred to the Navy while still on the ways, she was launched 15 April 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Ellsworth Buck, wife of the New York Congressman, and commissioned at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., 6 June 1945, Captain Jamee Campbell, USNR, in command.

Following shakedown in Cheseapeake Bay, she served as a training vessel at Little Creek, Va. and Newport, R.I. On 1 August 1945, the ship sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal. Reeeiving news of Japan's surrender enroute, the ship continued on to the Western Pacific. After oarrying general cargo between Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein, Guadalcanal, and Noumea, in December 1945, she returned to the United States and was assigned to NTS and, later, MSTS. Remaining a eommiseioned chip, she carried cargo in the Western Pacific until 25 June 1950.

When the Communists invaded the Republic of Korea, ehe joined amphibious forces in Yokosuka, Japan 9 July. Quiekly converted in Japan for wartime operation, Oglethorpe carried equipment for the 1st Calvalry Division to Po Hung Dong Korea, where the troops landed 18 July. Returning to San Diego in August, she embarked men and equipment of the 1st Marine Division. Arriving off Inehon, Korea 15 September for six days she supported the amphibious assault which briefly reversed the course of the war, sending Communist troops scurrying back to North Korea.

After a round trip to Japan, she reloaded equipment of the 1st Marine Division for the assault at Wonsan. Arriving off Wonsan 25 October she supported the operation until the 30th and then returned to the West Coast.

Transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in January 1951, Oglethorpe participated in amphibious training a]ong the East Coast, in the Carribean, and the Mediterranean. In October 1955? she made two trips to aid flood stricken Tampico Mexleo. Crewmen in six LCMs distributed food, clothing and medicine to flood victims far up the swollen and treacherous Panueo River.

Resuming her pattern of operations alternatin?g East Coast training and Mediterreanean deployments, the ship was part of the fleet that brought the Marines to Lebanon in July 1958 In October 1962, Oglethorpe stood ready off Cuba when Presi dent Kennedy demanded the removal of Soviet missiles. The The prompt and firm employment of U.S. Naval power forced the rapid withdrawal of the offensive missiles and maintained peace in the Western Hemisphere. Once again in the Mediterranean, the ship joined the ready forces as hostilities heightened between Greek and Turkish factions on Cyprus in early 1964.

Returning from the Mediterranean in August 1966, the ship entered Boston Naval Shipyard in early January 1967. Following overhaul ehe continued her pattern of Eaet Coast training and Mediterranean deployments until struck from the Navy List 1 November 1968.

Oglethorpe received two battle stars for Korean service.