USS Jupiter ( AK - 43 ) USS Jupiter ( AK - 43 ) was an " Aldebaran " - class cargo ship commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II . She was responsible for delivering necessary goods and equipment to ships and stations in the war zone . " Jupiter " ( AK - 43 ) was built in 1939 as " SS Flying Cloud " by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co . , Kearny , New Jersey ; she was later renamed " SS Santa Catalina " , She was acquired by the Navy 19 June 1941 ; the next day renamed " Jupiter " ; and commissioned 22 August 1942 , Lt . Comdr . D . S . Baker in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Jupiter " departed San Diego , California , 1 September for operations in the Pacific as the American campaign in the Solomon Islands was getting under way . From September through December she carried supplies and troops to staging areas for the Navy ' s first great offensive in the Pacific Ocean . She continued to discharge cargo in the Solomon Islands through the early part of 1943 , bringing invaluable support to the closing phases of the Guadalcanal Campaign . Transport of Japanese war materiel . " Jupiter " departed Espiritu Santo 1 February , commencing a series of three cruises to San Francisco for supplies and personnel . On the first of these voyages she returned captured Japanese equipment , including a " Betty " bomber , a " Tony " fighter , and several " long lance " torpedoes . Island invasion support . The cargo ship returned to battle during the Gilbert Islands invasion late November , landing equipment to aid in the successful assault on Tarawa . " Jupiter " then continued cargo operations until she was assigned to the 5th Amphibious Forces in April 1944 for the Marianas campaign . She departed Pearl Harbor 30 May and arrived in the Saipan assault area 15 June . She discharged her cargo despite constant enemy air attack and 10 days later proceeded toward Eniwetok . Invasion of the Philippines . Following a summer of amphibious rehearsals , " Jupiter " , under Comdr . J . M . Bristol , departed Guadalcanal 8 September to support the invasion of the Palau Islands . She unloaded her cargo without incident and returned to Manus to prepare for the important Philippine invasion . Departing Hollandia 16 October , she arrived at Leyte and commenced unloading cargo 22 October . As other units of the fleet were engaging the Japanese in the famed " Battle of Leyte Gulf " , " Jupiter " returned to the Marianas to pick up additional material . She continued reinforcing units in the Philippines until she steamed into Ulithi 23 January 1945 to prepare for the next Campaign . When continued progress along the " road to Japan " required a stop - over base for B - 29 raids on Tokyo , Iwo Jima was selected . " Jupiter " got underway 16 February with cargo and units of the 3rd Marine Division to secure this fortified atoll . After unloading her cargo under most difficult conditions , she remained in the area until Japanese resistance had ceased 16 March . Supplying troops on Okinawa . After repairs at Pearl Harbor , " Jupiter " departed Hawaii on 1 May with supplies for American troops fighting for Okinawa . End - of - war activity . She returned to San Francisco 27 July for conversion to an aviation supply ship and was redesignated AVS - 8 , 31 July 1945 . Following replenishment - at - sea exercises the following year , she supported outlying bases and ships until decommissioning at San Diego 23 May 1947 and joining the reserve fleet . Reactivated during Korean War . In June 1950 a new threat to world peace exploded in Asia - Communist aggression in South Korea . The United States answered this challenge by dispatching troops and supplies to the war - torn peninsula . " Jupiter " recommissioned 10 October 1950 , Comdr . H . R . McKibben in command , and sailed for Yokosuka , Japan , 8 January 1951 . Arriving 29 January , she operated out of Japan , replenishing units fighting ashore until returning to San Francisco 11 August 1952 . After operations along the U . S . West Coast , the supply ship returned to the war zone in March 1953 to supply troops and replenish carriers engaged in air strikes on the Korean peninsula . Following the cessation of hostilities , " Jupiter " returned to the West Coast 3 October . Operations in the Formosa Straits . This active ship was again deployed to the Pacific in 1954 to replenish ships in the tense Formosa area . The U . S . 7th Fleet prevented any major crisis from developing , and " Jupiter " steamed into San Francisco 20 October 1954 . She resumed her operations in the Far East March 1955 ; this time for an extended period . For the next 9 years ( 1955 – 63 ) she operated out of Yokosuka , replenishing units of the 7th Fleet , as it took on greater roles in " keeping the peace " . During " Jupiter ' s " service in the Far Pacific , the 7th Fleet averted major crises in Formosa , Indonesia , and Laos ; and played an important part in the Vietnam struggle . Post - Korean War decommissioning . She continued to carry vital supplies to the Far East until struck from the Navy List on 1 August 1965 . " Jupiter " was then transferred to the Maritime Administration and joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia , Washington , where she remained . She was struck from the Naval Register , 1 August 1965 . Final disposition : sold for scrapping in March 1971 . Military awards and honors . " Jupiter " received six battle stars for World War II : " Jupiter " received seven battle stars for Korean War service : Her crew members were eligible for the following medals :