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Posted on 09/20/2005 10:15:00 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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The USS Nantahala was launched in 1944 and broken up in 1975. During her 31 years of service she sailed the world providing the "life blood" of the fleet to ships of our Navy as well as to those of our allies.  Fleet Oilers were the gas stations of the fleet, transferring their cargo to other ships while at sea in an operation called Underway Replenishment, or the UNREP detail. They carried thick, black fuel oil to fire ship's boilers, highly volatile aviation gasoline for gas powered aircraft, and JP5 jet fuel for jet powered aircraft. Duty on a Fleet Oiler didn't have the glory serving on a "tin can" or "bird farm", our customers, did. Many times we couldn't even share the same liberty ports with them because we either had to stay out and refuel the ships remaining on station or go elsewhere in order to take on more cargo. However, without the Fleet Oilers the Task Groups and Task Forces of the Navy would have been severely limited in their range of operations and the time they could stay at sea.  Underway Replenishment Port and Starboard Life underway was typically long periods of steaming broken up by the underway replenishment detail. For most ships underway replenishment lasted a couple of hours. For us on the Nantahala underway replenish operations could sometimes be continuous for a couple of days, working around the clock, grabbing a sandwich and nap when and where we could. When not refueling time was spent maintaining the ship, her equipment, and rigs. All of this was done to the ever-present odor of black oil. Fleet Oilers were "working" ships, and work we did. The USS Nantahala was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, MD, 31 October 1943: launched 29 April 1944; sponsored by Miss Mary Louise Reed; delivered to the Navy 19 June 1944; and commissioned that same day, Comdr. Palmer M. Gunnell in command.
 After shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Nantahala departed Norfolk 22 July for the Dutch West Indies where, after loading a cargo of oil and gasoline at Aruba, she steamed for fleet tanker duty in the Pacific. Sailing via Pearl Harbor, she reached Kwajalein 25 August and served there as station tanker until heading for the Marianas 2 September. She arrived at Guam the 10th and during the remainder of the month deployed twice to replenish ships of the 3rd Fleet pounding Japanese positions from the Palaus to the Philippines.
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"Lot's of critics of the US "logistic tail" but it's what makes our military the best."
My own self, I have been meeting some of our people back from Afganistan and Iraq. There simply are not any better men. Anywhere, anytime. The best of them are so, so beyond my ability to express with words.
You know, there is not one of them I would not be very proud to command. There is not one of them unworthy to command me. Every last guy I have met so far makes me wish I had stayed in the Reserves. USMC reserves, maybe, Navy reserves arn't so hot!
What makes us the best is our poeple.
May God give us VICTORY over the Evil One.
Nah, not a bit.
/lier mode
I guess that's a good thing.
:-)
Another former oiler, ex-USS, ex-USNS Pawcatuck (AO-108) is being pulled from the James River "Ghost Fleet" and will be scrapped, according to my local (Norfolk) news this morning. I can remember unrep-ing from that ship.
Took my boat up to the James River fleet Memorial Day weekend. I saw numerous ships I remember from my Naval career (although I didn't serve on any of them). To me, it was kind of sad seeing these grand old ladies just rusting away.
Gal, if it gets to windy or rainy down your way head up here. You got a bed... and company!
I dunno. I just wanna warn ya that if they name a hurricane after me and it hits land - look out - it'll be the record breaker. I wouldn't have it any other way. ~ducking~
USMC Col. John Glenn's successful suborbital flight in "Friendship 7
I'm old enough to remember watching all 6 of the Mercury flights. For the benefit of our younger readers, Glenn did 3 orbits (and almost lost his heat shield.)
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