USS Calamares ( AF - 18 ) USS " Calamares " ( AF - 18 ) was a cargo ship acquired by the U . S . Navy for service in World War I . When World War II occurred , she was again called back into service , providing goods to units in the various oceans of the world . " Calamares " ( No . 3662 ) was built in 1913 by Workman , Clark and Co . , Belfast , Northern Ireland ; chartered by the U . S . Army from United Fruit Co . ; transferred to the navy 1 April 1918 ; outfitted at New York ; commissioned 10 April 1918 , Commander C . L . Arnold in command ; and reported to the U . S . Cruiser and Transport Force . World War I North Atlantic operations . Between April and October 1918 " Calamares " made five voyages to France as her part of the Navy ' s vast responsibility to transport to the American Expeditionary Force reinforcements , munitions , and supplies . On 11 October 1918 she was transferred to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service at New York , and converted to a refrigerator ship . End - of - war activity . " Calamares " carried perishable provisions on three voyages to France from 8 November 1918 to 12 March 1919 , and then was reassigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force for service as a troop carrier . On five transatlantic voyages between 25 March and 17 August " Calamares " brought home more than 10 , 000 troops from St . Nazaire and Brest . Calamares was decommissioned 18 September 1919 , and returned to her civilian peacetime operations . Reactivation for duty in World War II . World War II required the services of every available ship , and " Calamares " was once more called . On 12 December 1941 the veteran ship was reacquired by the navy , classified AF - 18 , and converted to a provisions storeship . She was recommissioned on 10 April 1943 , Lieutenant Commander D . R . Phoebus , USNR , in command , and reported to the U . S . Pacific Fleet . Pacific Theatre operations . Destined for a dual role as food carrier and issuing ship , " Calamares " cleared San Francisco , California , 23 April 1943 for Noumea , New Caledonia , where from 13 May to 11 June she issued provisions to the fleet units operating from this headquarters of the South Pacific . In June , she sailed to Auckland , New Zealand , for fresh stores , and from Noumea " Calamares " made a cruise of the South Pacific bases , supplying navy and army forces ashore . Returning to San Francisco in August , the storeship operated between the west coast and Pearl Harbor until 22 November , when she sailed for the South Pacific again , carrying Christmas delicacies as well as the usual stores for ships based on Funafuti , Ellice Islands , and Nouméa . On 1 January 1944 " Calamares " reported to Commander , Service Force U . S . 7th Fleet , at Sydney , Australia , and until June 1945 , provided vital logistic support for operations in New Guinea and the Philippines , carrying provisions from Australia , and on two occasions from San Francisco , to the operation areas . Post - war decommissioning . After hostilities ended " Calamares " continued to support Far East operations into 1946 . Returning to Norfolk , Virginia , 1 April 1946 , " Calamares " was decommissioned at Baltimore , Maryland , 25 April 1946 , and returned to the War Shipping Administration . Military awards and honors . " Calamares " ' crew members were authorized the following medals :