USS Prairie ( AD - 15 ) USS " Prairie " ( AD – 15 ) was a built just before the start of World War II for the U . S . Navy . Prior to U . S . entry into World War II , " Prairie " cruised between Atlantic ports from Colon , C . Z . to Argentia , Newfoundland . She was docked at Argentia , tending Allied ships , on 7 December 1941 as the first direct blows of World War II struck the United States . She was laid down 7 December 1938 by New York Shipbuilding , Camden , New Jersey ; launched 9 December 1939 ; sponsored by Mrs . Samuel M . Robinson ; and commissioned 5 August 1940 , Capt . J . B . W . Waller in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . A floating workshop for American and other Allied destroyers , " Prairie " was “ mother ship ” to a squadron of destroyers at Argentia , the Atlantic terminus of the transatlantic convoy route . A fire from , secured astern of " Prairie " , spread to the tender 29 May 1942 and caused extensive damage . After repairing at Boston , " Prairie " returned to Argentia . On 22 February 1943 , U . S . Coast Guard cutter was rammed during an engagement with a German submarine ; complete overhaul was provided by " Prairie " , and " Campbell " sailed to the United States 27 May . Departing Argentia 23 September , " Prairie " steamed to Boston , and on to Pearl Harbor in November , to remain until February 1944 . She departed Pearl Harbor 7 February to move with advancing forces in operations against the Marshall Islands . Lying in sheltered waters , " Prairie " tended destroyers throughout the remainder of the war . Majuro Atoll had been secured 7 February , and " Prairie " arrived there the 13th , to remain at this advantageous point for mobile supply during the costly campaign for Tarawa . Departing Majuro 3 June , she steamed to Eniwetok , where she was while fighting progressed in the Marianas and Carolines . Reporting to Ulithi 8 October , " Prairie " was there at war ’ s end and remained until 1 October 1945 , when she steamed to Tokyo Bay . On 30 November she steamed home to San Francisco . Korean War operations . " Prairie " steamed to San Diego , destroyer force headquarters , 16 February 1946 and remained there until 11 August 1947 . The Korean War demanded more hurried operations from " Prairie " , and she sailed to provide tending services for U . N . forces from 2 February to 3 August 1951 and again from 6 April to 10 September 1952 , and from late August 1953 to 11 April 1954 . Post - Korean War operations . After this period of increased activity , " Prairie " continued to provide repair , supply , and medical services to ships of the 7th Fleet . In March 1956 , the tender returned to San Diego after completing an around - the - world cruise , a rarity for a destroyer tender . In 1958 , " Prairie " steamed to Yokohama 8 May for the ceremonies at which Yokohama and San Diego became sister cities . In October 1959 , she steamed to Taiwan for the “ 10 – 10 Day ” festival , a day similar to U . S . Independence Day for the Nationalist Chinese . In Spring 1961 , the tender participated in the “ Pony Express ” exercises held by SEATO forces . She returned to Pearl Harbor 15 July 1966 for her first visit in over 20 years ; she repaired over 100 vessels there before departing the area 6 December . During a 6 month tour at Pearl Harbor beginning in July 1967 , " Prairie " rescued survivors from the yacht " Anobell " in turbulent waters 600 miles off Hawaii 11 December and transported them to San Diego . In 1968 , " Prairie " added a People - to - People program to her schedule of duties while at Taiwan . As part of that program , her crew painted a new orphanage and provided dental care to remote areas of the island . The " Prairie " was decommissioned on 26 March 1993 at Long Beach , California , and was later towed to Singapore and sold for scrap .