- USNS Sgt. Joseph E. Muller (T-AG-171)
USNS "Sgt. Joseph E. Muller" (T-AG-171/ T-APC-118) was a "Sgt. Jonah E. Kelly"-class
cargo ship constructed during the final months ofWorld War II . As USAT "Sgt. Joseph E. Muller" she was used by theU.S. Army for World War II cleanup operations. She was again commissioned – this time for theU.S. Navy – and assigned toKorean War supply and transport operations, earning ninebattle stars . She was again place back in service in 1962 as anoceanographic research ship , based out ofFlorida , until she was finally declared surplus to needs in 1969 and struck.Built in Savannah, Georgia
"Sgt. Joseph E. Muller" was laid down under
U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2485) as "Check Knot" on30 December 1944 by the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation,Savannah, Georgia ; launched on17 February 1945 ; sponsored by Mrs. D. R. Williams; delivered to the Maritime Commission's Shipping Administration on9 June 1945 for operation by theWaterman Steamship Company .World War II-related U.S. Army service
Returned to the Maritime Commission and transferred to the
U.S. War Department for operation by the Army's transportation service after the end of World War II, "Check Knot" was renamed "Sgt. Joseph E. Mutter" and was operated in support of occupation forces in Japan andKorea .Korean War service with the Navy
In late 1949, the Navy-operated
Military Sea Transportation Service (nowMilitary Sealift Command ) was established; and, in July1950 , the ship was transferred to that organization. Through the Korean conflict, she continued to shuttle passengers and cargo -- primarily to Japan and Korea, but with an occasional run toOkinawa ,Taiwan , and thePhilippines . In the spring of 1955, she sailed east, arriving inHawaii for repairs in mid-May, and atNew York City in late June for operations out of that port. Initially slated forArctic resupply missions, she was transferred temporarily and in ready status to the Maritime Administration'sNational Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF),Hudson River berthing area, in December1956 , and, in September1957 , was declared surplus to the needs of the Navy. The following month, she was returned to the Navy and, on25 October , was permanently transferred to the NDRF and laid up with the Hudson River unit.Reactivated as a research support ship
Just under five years later, in August
1962 , "Sgt. Joseph E, Mutter" was designated for activation, conversion to a research support ship, and redelivery to the Navy. On1 October , reactivation and conversion was begun at theMaryland Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company ,Baltimore, Maryland ; on30 October , she was reinstated on theNavy list as USNS "Sgt. Joseph E. Mutter" (T-AG-171). A week later, the ship was towed toNew Orleans, Louisiana , for further alterations; and, in April1963 , she arrived atPort Everglades, Florida , where she took up duties as a special project ship foroceanographic research operations.Honors and awards
During the Korean War, Sgt. Joseph E, Mutter participated in the following campaigns:
* North Korean Aggression - 8 July to 38 October 1950
* Communist China Aggression - 13 December 1950 to 24 January 1951
* First UN Counter Offensive - 25 January to 12 April 1951
* Communist China Spring Offensive - 26 April to 8 July 1951
* UN Summer-Fall Offensive - 15 July to 27 November 1951
* Second Korean Winter - 28 November 1951 to 8 April 1952
* Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 - 16 July to 29 November 1952
* Third Korean Winter - 1 December 1952 to 27 April 1953
* Korean Summer-Fall 1953 - 1 May to 20 July 1952Final inactivation
On
16 September 1969 , the ship was again declared surplus; and, on13 November , she was transferred back to the NDRF for berthing in the James River. Her name was struck from theNavy list on the same date.See also
*
United States Navy
*World War II
*Korean War References
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49171.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USNS Sgt. Joseph E. Muller (T-AG-171) – ex - USNS Sgt. Joseph E. Muller (T-APC-118) (1950 - 1957) - USAT Sgt. Joseph E. Muller (1948 - 1950)]
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