USS Omaha ( CL - 4 ) USS " Omaha " ( CL - 4 ) was the lead ship of " Omaha " class of light cruiser of the United States Navy . She was the second US Navy ship named for the city of Omaha , Nebraska . " Omaha " was laid down on 6 December 1918 by the Todd SB & DD Co . of Tacoma , Washington . The ship was launched on 14 December 1920 and was sponsored by Louise Bushnell White . She was commissioned on 24 February 1923 , with Captain David C . Hanrahan in command . Inter - war period . Following her commissioning , " Omaha " joined the Atlantic Fleet in peacetime . At this time , her primary mission was training , and she proved to be very capable by consistently winning fleet awards in gunnery and communications . She made many ports - of - call throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean during her peacetime cruises , displaying the US flag . Capture of " Odenwald " . Just prior to the US entry into World War II , on 6 November 1941 , while on neutrality patrol with in the mid - Atlantic near the Equator , " Omaha " sighted a vessel which aroused much suspicion by her actions . Refusing to satisfactorily identify herself , and taking evasive action , the stranger was ordered to heave to . She flew the American flag and carried the name " Willmoto " of Philadelphia on her stern . As " Omaha " s crew dispatched a boarding party to the freighter , its crew took to lifeboats and hoisted a signal which indicated that the ship was sinking . When their party pulled alongside , they could hear explosions from within the hull , while one of the fleeing crewmen shouted " This is a German ship and she is sinking ! " In short order , the men of " Omaha " – despite the extreme risk – salvaged the vessel , rendered her safe and had her underway for Puerto Rico . The " American freighter " Wilmoto " " , as it turned out , was the German freighter " Odenwald " carrying a cargo of rubber . " Odenwald " was taken to Puerto Rico . An admiralty court ruled that since the ship was illegally claiming American registration , there was sufficient grounds for confiscation . A legal case was started claiming that the crews of the two American ships had salvage rights because " Odenwald " s crew attempting to scuttle the ship was the equivalent of abandoning her . The court case – settled in 1947 – ruled the members of the boarding party and the prize crew were entitled to $ 3 , 000 apiece while all the other crewmen in " Omaha " and " Somers " were entitled to two months ’ pay and allowances . This was the last prize money awarded by the US Navy . World War II . After the United States entered the war , " Omaha " continued her South Atlantic patrol , instructed to stop German blockade runner s . While patrolling out of a base in Brazil on 4 January 1944 , with , she spotted a ship which immediately showed signs of being scuttled . The ship ' s crew took to the boats and she began settling by the stern . The following day , another ship was sighted and its crew set her afire . " Omaha " opened fire and the vessel disappeared beneath the waves . Both ships carried cargoes of rubber , which the Germans desperately needed . In March , " Omaha " proceeded to Naples to prepare for landings in southern France . On 19 August , she protected the flank of the units bombarding Toulon , and three days later took part in the operations that resulted in the surrender of the German garrison on the island of Porquerolles . " Omaha " was present at the surrender of Gien on 23 August , and on 25 August , she delivered a sustained bombardment on targets in the Toulon area . Shortly thereafter , she was detached from the operation and returned to patrol duties . The termination of hostilities ( 15 August ) found her patrolling in the South Atlantic . " Omaha " sailed for Philadelphia upon detachment from patrol , arriving on 1 September . By 17 October , she was slated for retirement , and she decommissioned on 1 November . " Omaha " was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 November , and scrapped in February 1946 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard . Awards . " Omaha " earned one battle star for service in World War II . Notes . The Chief Petty Officer peering from between the American and German Flags in the upper center of the photograph is Antonio Giuseppe Pelosi aka " Tony " , son of Italian Immigrants Luigi Antonio Pelosi and Rosa ( Paolo ) Pelosi form Gallo Matese Italy . He was a veteran of WWI and WWII . He was a Chief Gunners Mate and subsequently after the Odenwald salvage he served aboard the U . S . S . Belleau Wood in US Navy sea battles of Tarawa , Wake , Gilberts , Marshalls , Palau , Hollandia , Truk , Marianas , Bonins , Ryukyus , and Japan . He was aboard the U . S . S . Belleau Wood in Oct . 1944 when it was struck by a Kamakazi killing 92 sailors . The U . S . S . Franklin which was nearby was also hit . The U . S . S . Belleau Wood received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces . The picture is an original of the crew from the U . S . S . Omaha . An original picture signed by the crew is now in the possession of Antonio ' s son , Lou Pelosi . Several years after the war Antonio received $ 3000 . 00 as part of the salvage award . Antonio passed away in 1959 losing his last battle against cancer .