USS Cahaba ( AO - 82 ) USS " Cahaba " ( AO - 82 ) was a acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II . She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non - combat areas primarily in the Pacific Ocean . For her brave efforts , she received eight battle stars during the war . " Cahaba " , a T2 - SE - A2 tanker hull , was launched on 19 May 1943 as " Lackawapen " ( later changed to " Lackawaxen " ) by Marinship Corp . , Sausalito , California , under a Maritime Commission contract ( MC hull 1261 ) , sponsored by Mrs . B . Bloomquist . Transferred to the Navy on 15 August 1943 and commissioned on 14 January 1944 , Commander E . H . Danesi , USNR , in command , and reported to the Pacific Fleet . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Cahaba " cleared San Pedro , California , on 11 February 1944 for Pearl Harbor and Majuro , arriving on 1 April . After two weeks as station oiler there , she put to sea to fuel task force TF 58 from 13 April to 2 May , as the massive task force hurled air attacks against the Palaus , Truk , and Hollandia . Returning to Majuro , the oiler based there for two fueling runs to Kwajalein and one refueling voyage to Pearl Harbor between 3 May and 13 June . With the development of the Marianas operation , " Cahaba ' s " base became Eniwetok from 28 June , as she fueled 5th Fleet ships for their strikes on Guam , Saipan , and Tinian . As the fleet she served moved westward , " Cahaba " followed , serving as station oiler at Ulithi from 13 October to 27 December , along with refueling 3rd Fleet units at sea from 14 to 30 October . Supporting the Lingayen Gulf Covering Force , the oiler took station in Kossol Roads from 28 December 1944 to 26 January 1945 , then returned to Ulithi . She contributed to the successful assault on Iwo Jima by fueling TF 58 ships at sea from 23 February to 4 March . End - of - war activity . Following a much - needed overhaul , " Cahaba " sailed from San Pedro , California , to the kamikaze - ridden waters off Okinawa , delivering oil to the station tanker at Kerama Retto late in June 1945 . Through the close of the war , she sailed out of Ulithi refueling the 3rd Fleet at sea as it carried out its final smashing raids on the Japanese homeland . Clearing Ulithi on 3 September , the oiler paused at Okinawa , then sailed on to Shanghai to aid in the reoccupation by Chinese Nationalists of areas held by the Japanese during the war . Occupation duty at Okinawa , Formosa , Hong Kong , and Amoy continued until 16 March 1946 , when she cleared for the Panama Canal and New York City , arriving on 28 April . " Cahaba " was decommissioned on 15 May 1946 , and transferred to the Maritime Commission on 8 May 1947 . Transferred to MSTS operations . Reacquired in March 1948 and transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service on 31 July 1950 , " Cahaba " served in a noncommissioned status until 20 January 1958 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration . Transferred to the U . S . Army . " Cahaba " was acquired by the United States Army in 1966 and converted to a floating power station for Vietnam service at Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Co . , Mobile , Alabama . Final decommissioning . She was struck from the Navy List at an unknown date . Subsequently , she was scrapped in 1971 . Awards . " Cahaba " received eight battle stars for World War II service .