Milford chronicle., 1956-05-18
The Saga Of A Historic
Vessel Named Mispillion

Il,
U. S. S. Mispillion will dock in
Long Beach to complete third
tour of overseas duty since the
outbreak of the Korean War in
1850. This tired ship and her crew
have spent 80 Of the last SO months
outside of the continental limits
of the United States. Most of this
time was spent in the support OF
the operating forces in the Korean
Area and on the Formosa Patrol
When most people think of a
Fleet Oiler, they have a picture OF
slow, plodding, faithful ship that
carries bulk fuel oil from one safe
port to another for the combatani
ships to pick up. However, the
words Slow, "plodding", and
safe" appear very seldom in the
log of the Mispillion. Often the
ship was called upon to make
flank speed in North Korean wa
ters in order to meet the needs OF
the destroyers, cruisers, carriers
and battleships. Operations close
to the Korean coastline have been
the rule rather than the excep-
ton.
This last tour of overseas duty
for the Mispillion, began last No
vember and is ending now, with
service. The theme, ut is more
blessed to give than to receive,
has been carried out to the best of
the ability of the officers and crew
of this feet oiler. They have been
given many difficult assignments.
Often, the ship has had to get un-
der way with only a few hours no
tice. but on every occasion has met
the deadline and accomplished the
mission assigned. The record of
service by the Mispillion in COM
bat waters is unsurpassed. During
this tour of duty, the Oiler deliv-
cred to other ships, 437, 1000 barrels
of black fuel oil, $4,000 barrels OF
aviation gasoline, as well as serv-
ing as a carrier for passengers,
mail, and other needed supplies.
The actual transferring of these
materials from one ship to an
other requires long hours of hard,
and also skillful, labor. These are
the Jobs that our Fleet Oiler are
assigned. The MispilliOn has al
ways done her job, and met every
operational commitment.
However, this service does not
end with the Fleet alone. Showing
a genuine concern for the people
of the country they are serving
the men of the Mispillion in 1867
collected and donated 81 200 to the
March of Dimes, $500 to the Navy
Relief, and approximately $500 tC
little Penny Nelson, a polio victim
in Long Beach. This year, these
contributions have been surpassed
In February, $1,000 was donated
to the Polio Fund in the name ot
Penny Nelson, and in March 500
was given to the Netherlands
Flood Relief. And as the Mispil
lion returns now to her home port
her crew is donating over $4,000 tC
the City of Long Beach for the
purchase of an electro-myograpf
machine, to aid in the rehabilita-
tion of polio patients. Contribu-
tions were also made to the Red
Cross and other charitable insti-
tutions.
This service to others doesn't
merely stop with donations of mon
ey. A far more thrilling expert
ence for the crew of the Mispillion
was the opportunity to save human
lives. During routine operations
In March near Koahsiung, Formosa
the Mispillion's alert lookouts dis
covered a survivor of the Inflated
Chinese ship, Lien Shiung floating
in the water. The ship Immediately
put about and spent the entire day
searching the area. with the CO
operation of the u. S. S. Whidbey
and two Navy patrol planes. Al
the end of the operation, the Mis-
pillion had picked up IA survivor:
and q bodies. This rescue exhibit
ed outstanding ship handling OF
the part of the Commanding Off
Ger. Captain II. G. Munson of Long
Beach, and close teamwork on the
part of the officers and men of the
shin. While a well-done was re-
ceived from higher Naval Author.
tiles, the simple thanks of the Chi.
nese people was by far the mosi
rewarding to the men of the Mis-
pillion.
The Mispillion can make no claim
to shore bombardment, combat
missions, or daring commando
raids. But, no finer example OF
service can be found. The ships
motto is "If we got it, you can have
it"l For Task Forces 50, "a, and
72. these have not been empty
words. While the main cargo was
black fuel oil for thirsty boilers
whenever the Mispillion was call
ed upon for provisions, spare parts
candy, or movies, if they had 1t
they gave it, even though 1T often
might deprive their own ship. The
lob was to serve the combatani
forces. The Mispillion did its job
of service.
Condensed History Of the
u. 3. =. MispilliOn
The Mispillion was built by the
Sun Shipbuilding and Dry DocE
Company in Chester, Pennsylvania
in accordance with specifications
approved by the U. S. Navy for the
u. S. Maritime Commission. 1t was
then turned over to the U. S. Navy
at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
for conversion to a Fleet Oiler. Al
1906 on 20 December 1945 the ship
was placed in commission. Mrs
Ethel C. Feddeman, wife of DR.. Z.
e. Feddeman, Chief Physician OF
Sun Ship, was the sponsor at the
launching.
The Mispillion was named for
the Mispillion River in Delaware
in accordance with the traditional
custom of naming Fleet Oilers and
Tankers after rivers flowing in the