USS Rutilicus ( AK - 113 ) USS " Rutilicus " ( AK - 113 ) was an commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II . She was responsible for delivering troops , goods and equipment to locations in the war zone . " Rutilicus " , a cargo ship , was laid down as Liberty ship SS " Andrew Rowan " ( MCE hull 1643 ) on 2 April 1943 under Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Corp . , Wilmington , California ; launched on 26 April 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . A . B . Chandler ; and delivered to Waterman Steamship Co . for operation on 8 May 1943 . Acquired by the Navy on 9 October 1943 , she was commissioned at San Diego , California , on 30 October 1943 , Lt . Comdr . H . O . Matthieson in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . Following a short shakedown cruise along the coast , " Rutilicus " took on a load of general cargo at Port Hueneme , California , and steamed in convoy for Hawaii arriving at Pearl Harbor on 21 November . Departing the Hawaiian Islands on 4 December , she continued on to the Gilbert Islands , delivering cargo at both Tarawa and Abemama before returning to Pearl Harbor on 12 January 1944 . Supporting invasion of the Marshall Islands . She got underway on 25 January for the invasion of the Marshall Islands . Arriving at Majuro on 3 February , she delivered 150 U . S . Marines and general cargo and then returned to Pearl Harbor on 21 February . Her next voyage , 29 February to 28 March , was a run to Baker Island , to pick up Army Air Force advance base equipment for return to Pearl Harbor . Island - hopping in the South Pacific . " Rutilicus " ' next operations involved extensive island - hopping . Standing out from Pearl Harbor on 14 April , she steamed in convoy for Kwajalein Atoll , the Marshalls , arriving on the 23d . She then touched at Makin , Tarawa , Abemama , and Makin again , before returning to Pearl Harbor on 20 May . Tinian invasion operations . By 14 June , " Rutilicus " was steaming in convoy for Eniwetok Atoll , arriving there on the 25th . For the next seven weeks , she rode at anchor there , then joined up with a convoy for Tinian , the Marianas . Following offloading at Tinian , she left for Eniwetok 14 August , touching there on the 19th , and then continued on to Pearl Harbor . Then she steamed independently for San Francisco , California , arriving on 8 September . On the 12th , she moved into Amship Corp . Shipyard , Alameda , California , for repairs , alterations , and conversion from a general cargo carrier to a fleet dry provisions issue ship . Serving the Philippine invasion forces . " Rutilicus " moved to the Naval Supply Depot , Oakland , California , on 13 October , took on dry provisions , clothing , small stores , ship ' s store stock , and medical stores for fleet issue in the forward areas . Thirteen days later , she steamed for Leyte , the Philippines , via Manus , Funafuti , and Hollandia . By 1 December , she was serving units of the fleet in Philippine waters . The next 5 months saw her issuing stores between Hollandia , Nouméa , Espiritu Santo , Manus , Ulithi , and Guam . She was back in San Francisco on 6 May 1945 . Okinawa operations . Following repairs , she steamed on 12 June via the Carolines for Okinawan waters . She commenced operations from Buckner Bay on 21 July ; and , on 10 September , she steamed with Task Group 55 . 7 for Nagasaki , Kyūshū , Japan , arriving on the 12th . She shifted to Sasebo on the 25th . Post - war duties . After returning to San Francisco , she headed , via the Panama Canal , for Norfolk , Virginia . Arriving at Hampton Roads on 1 December , she reported to the Commandant , 5th Naval District for disposition . Post - war decommissioning . Decommissioned on 17 December 1945 , and returned to WSA the following day , she was struck from the Navy List on 8 January 1946 . " Rutilicus " was placed in the Maritime Commission , National Defense Reserve Fleet , and remained berthed in the James River until 26 October 1971 when she was sold for scrapping to Hierros Ardes , S . A . , of Bilbao , Spain . Military awards and honors . " Rutilicus " received two battle star s for World War II service . Her crew was eligible for the following medals :