USS Kaskaskia ( AO - 27 ) USS " Kaskaskia " ( AO - 27 ) was a " Cimarron " - class fleet replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy , named for the Kaskaskia River in Illinois . " Kaskaskia " was launched 29 September 1939 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company , Newport News , Virginia ; sponsored by Mrs . Joseph P . Kennedy ; acquired by the Navy from Esso Oil Company , 22 October 1940 ; and commissioned 29 October 1940 , Commander U . S . Gregory in command . Service history . " Kaskaskia " cleared Boston , Mass 19 November 1940 for Pearl Harbor , arriving 3 January 1941 . She transported oil between West Coast ports and Pearl Harbor , making six cruises before 7 August , when she made an oil run to Johnston Island . The oiler returned to Mare Island 10 September for overhaul and repairs . In San Francisco when the Japan ese made their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor , " Kaskaskia " immediately began preparations to join the Service Force in the Pacific . World War II . Sailing from San Diego 6 January 1942 , " Kaskaskia " commenced fueling operations en route before arriving Pago Pago 20 January . For the next six months she operated out of Nom - a refueling the ships engaged in the violent struggle to stem the Japanese advance . The oiler arrived Kodiak , Alaska , 3 July with a cargo of oil and fuel to be used in the Aleutian Islands campaign . She returned to Wilmington , California , loaded oil and aviation gasoline and continued oil runs to Alaskan ports until she steamed to Nouméa late in March 1943 . " Kaskaskia " supplied many ships , increasing the mobility of the fleet during the successful campaigns in the South Pacific . " Kaskaskia " returned to San Pedro 28 July for repairs before resuming her duties at Pearl Harbor 21 September . She transported oil between California and Hawaii until she sailed 25 November to support the Gilbert Islands campaign . Returning to Pearl Harbor 10 December , the oiler resumed her cruises between San Pedro and Hawaii . As the Navy pushed relentlessly toward Japan , " Kaskaskia " departed Pearl Harbor 16 January 1944 to support operations in the Marshall Islands . After the Navy had captured the Kwajalein and Majuro Atoll s , " Kaskaskia " supported carrier task forces during their devastating raids on Truk , the Marianas Islands , and Palau Islands in February and March . The oiler continued fueling operations in the Marshall Islands area until she cleared Majuro 6 June to fuel destroyers and destroyer escorts in the invasion of Saipan . Throughout June and July " Kaskaskia " remained on hand , assisting the fleet to take Saipee , Guam , and Tinian — important supply areas in the future campaign for the Philippines . As the Navy fought toward the Philippines , Admiral Nimitz decided to take the Palau Islands as a staging area for aircraft and ships during the invasion of Leyte . " Kaskaskia " departed Manus on 4 September with a task group bound for an assault on Peleliu . She operated in the Palau area until returning Manus 8 October . Her stay was a brief one , however , as she sailed 10 October for Leyte . Prior to the actual landings , she fueled units of the fleet , continuing this vital duty until a beachhead had been established . The oiler returned Ulithi 23 October and made another fueling run to the Philippine area early in November . After an overhaul at San Diego December 1944 through February 1945 , " Kaskaskia " arrived Kwajalein 11 March to service the fleet . The oiler cleared Ulithi 30 March for the fueling area off Okinawa , the last major step before the Japanese homeland itself . Once again the oilers , the unsung heroes of the war , stood by refueling the many ships engaged in the irresistible assault from the sea on Okinawa . " Kaskaskia " was relieved of fueling duties off Okinawa , only to be summoned for another important service . She departed Ulithi 3 July to refuel units of the carrier task forces , launching raids on the Japanese Islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō . When the Japanese surrendered , " Kaskaskia " steamed into Tokyo Bay 10 September with ships of the Occupation Forces . She continued refueling operations in Japan , China , and Formosa for an entire year before arriving San Pedro 28 September 1946 . Korean War . Between 1947 and 1950 she ferried oil and aviation gasoline from the West Coast to the Far East and naval bases in the mid - Pacific . When North Korean troops invaded South Korea , the United States accepted the challenge and ordered its forces to defend the embattled peninsula . " Kaskaskia " cleared San Diego 16 September to operate out of Sasebo . During October she entered the heavily - mined waters off Wonsan , fueling ships blockading and bombarding that key port . During December she arrived off Hungnam to service ships engaged in evacuation operations in that area . Throughout the harsh winter months , " Kaskaskia " continued vital fueling missions between Japan and Korea . During the United Nations counteroffensive in the spring of 1951 , she also stood by for fueling operations . The oiler returned to Long Beach , California , 27 August for overhaul and operations along the Pacific Coast . She sailed for the second Korean tour January 1952 , arriving Sasebo on 22 January to refuel the ships engaged in the Korean War . In addition to services in Korea , she also supplied units in Japan , Okinawa and Formosa before returning Long Beach 31 July . Overhaul and training preceded her third Korean deployment from 27 December to July 1953 . On this tour she supported ships engaged in fire support operations . Returning home 17 August , " Kaskaskia " underwent overhaul ; she then sailed again for the Far East 4 January 1954 , operated out of Sasebo and returning San Francisco 12 October . Following coastal operations , the oiler was placed out of commission , in reserve , 8 April 1955 . " Kaskaskia " was transferred to MSTS 8 January 1957 , and operated in that capacity with a Navy crew until 21 October 1957 when she decommissioned and was turned over to the Maritime Administration 10 December . " Kaskaskia " was struck from the Navy List 2 January 1959 . 1960s . The Berlin Crisis of 1961 necessitated the reactivation of ships and " Kaskaskia " was reinstated 8 September . Following overhaul and alterations she recommissioned at Hoboken , New Jersey , 6 December , Captain John D . Howell in command . After shakedown operations in the Caribbean , the oiler arrived Mayport , Florida , 1 May 1962 . Throughout the summer she engaged in exercises off the Florida Coast , and sailed to the Azores to participate in Project Mercury , manned orbital flights . She was in company with during the latter ' s recovery of Astronaut Walter Schirra 3 October , demonstrating the large role of the Navy in space operations . " Kaskaskia " return to Mayport 22 October and two days later sailed to participate in the Cuban blockade . President John F . Kennedy ordered the blockade when the Soviet Union tried to plant offensive missiles only from the United States . The naval pressure persuaded the Soviet Union to withdraw the missiles , easing the crisis . The oiler returned to operations out of Mayport 21 November . She cleared Mayport 5 February 1963 , for a six month Mediterranean cruise to refuel ships of the US 6th Fleet , then resumed refueling exercises off Florida for the rest of the year . During 1964 " Kaskaskia " engaged in fueling operations and exercises off Florida and in the Caribbean , constantly seeking improved methods to increase the mobility of the Fleet . On 6 January 1965 , " Kaskaskia " sailed for another 6th Fleet deployment . While she was operating in the Mediterranean , her crew worked day and night delivering over 19 , 000 , 000 gallons of fuel to 169 ships . " Kaskaskia " returned to Mayport , 7 June 1965 . She operated primarily along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean into 1967 . Highlights of this period were service to ships patrolling off the coast of riot - torn Santo Domingo in the summer of 1965 , and participation in the recovery team for an unmanned Apollo Program space flight in February 1966 . " Kaskaskia " was decommissioned for the final time in December 1969 and sold for scrap in September 1970 . " Kaskaskia " , received nine battle stars for World War II and seven stars for Korean War service .