USS Pakana ( ATF - 108 ) USS " Pakana " ( AT – 108 ) was an " Abnaki " - class of fleet ocean tug . It was named after the Pakana , a Native American tribe of Texas . This ship saw service in the Pacific theater of World War II , and was later transferred to the United States Bureau of Mines for use in Alaska before being deliberately sunk in 1975 . Construction and commissioning . The " Pakana " was laid down 1 October 1942 by the United Engineering Company , Alameda , California . It was launched on 3 March 1943 , and was sponsored by Miss Louise Mary Shipp . The ship was formally commissioned on 17 December 1943 , with Lt . William E . White in command ; it was reclassified as ( ATF – 108 ) on 15 May 1944 . After shakedown , " Pakana " conducted numerous towing assignments up and down the West Coast and carried out familiarization training for her crew . On 8 March 1944 she departed San Pedro , California , and sailed for Pearl Harbor with a tow and in company with two YW ’ s . En route , she spent many hours at general quarters due to frequent submarine contacts . Pacific Theater service . Several weeks were spent at Pearl providing services for fleet units , towing targets and performing salvage operations . On 28 April , " Pakana " sailed for Majuro accompanied by USS " Saunter " ( AM - 295 ) and USS " Molala " ( ATF - 106 ) with three fuel barges in tow . She arrived Majuro 11 May , whereupon she returned to Pearl . On 9 June , while proceeding to Kwajalein with a tow , her tow wire parted in heavy weather . " Pakana " subsequently retrieved the tow and completed her voyage . Through June and most of July she carried out salvage operations at Kwajalein and Eniwetok , removing beached craft from the landing areas . Upon completion of salvage operations , she was given towing assignments to Guam , back to Eniwetok , to Saipan , and to Guam again , where she became engaged in additional salvage work . From Guam , " Pakana " sailed 1 October for the Palau Islands encountering a typhoon en route , which tore lose her tow . Again " Pakana " was forced to ride out heavy weather and watch - dog her charge until she could re - rig her wire . She arrived at Ulithi on 6 October , dropped the tow and headed for Pearl via Guam , to undergo alterations . Okinawa campaign . On completion of scheduled alterations , " Pakana " , with USS " Deliver " ( ARS - 23 ) , began salvage operations on a LST at Maui , on 25 January 1945 , completing the job on 3 February . She was then assigned convoy duty through 25 March , ending up at Okinawa on the 30th . Okinawa proved to be hazardous as " Pakana " spent several days extracting LST ’ s from the beaches while under Japanese aerial attacks . On the 6th she was called to pick up survivors of the USS " Bush " ( DD - 529 ) , sunk by Japanese planes , and to assist the USS " Wesson " ( DE - 184 ) , which was flooding from battle damage . Next came salvage assignments at Kerama Retto and Hagushi . On 22 April " Pakana " picked up survivors of the SS " Canada Victory " . The next day , she had three crewmen wounded during a strafing attack in which one of her lookouts , manning a 40mm . gun , brought down the plane . A short time later the ship ’ s gunners downed another plane . On 9 May , " Pakana " assisted the USS " New Mexico " ( BB - 40 ) in fighting fires resulting from bomb hits , then went alongside the SS " Bucknell Victory " to supply power to the stricken vessel , remaining with her until the 18th . Divers from the " Pakana " engaged in underwater operations to remove obstructions at the Hagushi anchorage in Okinawa on 1 June . Later , on 8 June she was directed to rendezvous with the USS " Munsee " ( ATF - 107 ) , to assist her in towing the bow of the USS " Pittsburgh " ( CA - 72 ) , which had broken off in a typhoon , to Guam . They arrived on the 20th , and by the 22nd " Pakana " was en route to Leyte . " Pakana " underwent repairs at Leyte , leaving on 20 August . She subsequently provided services and salvage assistance at Saipan , Okinawa , Kagoshima , Sasebo , and [ Nago Wan . Post - war service . From 20 – 25 January 1946 , " Pakana " was in Tokyo in conjunction with salvage operations following a recent typhoon . She departed on the 25th for Guam , arriving on the 30th for installation of LORAN equipment . On 20 February she began a series of shuttle runs between Saipan and Guam with various tows . On 26 April , " Pakana " sailed for Pearl Harbor with a tow , arriving on the 26th . She returned to San Diego and operated locally until October 1947 when she was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet . She was retained for temporary duty by Service Force , Pacific Fleet until 9 December 1947 , when she was ordered to San Diego for inactivation . " Pakana " was placed out of commission in reserve 30 April 1948 and berthed at San Diego . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 July 1963 , transferred to the Maritime Administration , and laid up at Suisun Bay , California . On 17 May 1966 she was reinstated and assigned to the United States Bureau of Mines for use in Alaska . On 27 May 1975 , she was disposed of via sinking by gunfire . Awards . " Pakana " earned one battle star for service in World War II .