Petaluma AOG-79

Petaluma

(AOG-79: dp. 6,047; 1. 325'; b. 48'; dr. 19'; s. 10 k.; cpl. 28; cl.
Rincon; T. T1-M-BT2)

Petaluma (AOG-79) was laid down as Tavispan (MC hull 2647) by the Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston Tex., 3 May 1945; launched as Raccoon Bend, 9 August 1945, sponsored by Mrs. J. G. Tompkins; delivered to the Maritime Commission, 28 November 1945, operated under contract as a merchant tanker until acquired by the Navv, 14 August 1950; and was placed in service as USNS Petaluma (T-AOG-79), 11 September 1950.

Assigned to MSTS and manned by a Civil Service crew,

Petaluma departed New Orleans 15 September 1950 on the first of two oil runs to Newfoundland. Between 19 January and 16 February 1951 she completed a run to the Azores then commenced shuttling clean petroleum products between the Texas oil ports and the east coast. Reassigned that fall she departed Port Arthur 13 November, transited the Panama Canal and steamed into the Pacific. On 2 January 1952 she arrived at Yokohama, whence she shifted to Sasebo to begin shuttle runs to Korea to supply needed fuel6 to United Nations forces fighting there. After the truce, she continued that shuttle service into the 1960's with few interruptions, onee to Haiphong (13 April-6 May 1954) and oeeasionally to Okinawa and to Iwo Jima. With the build up of American forces in South Viet Nam after 1964, runs to that embattled coast were added to her schedule. Into 1970, Petaluma, with her sister ships, continues to transport jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel fuel as directed by ComMSTS Far East.

Petaluma earned one battle star for service during the Korean Conflict.