USS Bootes ( AK - 99 ) USS Bootes ( AK - 99 ) was a " Crater " - class cargo ship commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II , named after the constellation Boötes . She was responsible for delivering troops , goods and equipment to locations in the war zone . " SS Thomas Oliver Larkin " was laid down on 24 April 1943 at Wilmington , California , by the California Shipbuilding Corp . under a Maritime Commission contract ( MCE hull 1656 ) ; launched on 16 May 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . H . Toulain ; renamed " Bootes " and designated AK - 99 on 27 May 1943 ; delivered to the Navy on 29 May 1943 ; and commissioned on 15 July 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Howard P . Bacon , USNR , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After conversion and outfitting at San Diego , California , " Bootes " got underway for the New Hebrides Islands on 28 August . She arrived at Espiritu Santo on 2 October and remained there nine days . On the 11th , the cargo ship stood out of Segond Channel on her way to Melbourne , Australia . She entered Melbourne harbor on 20 October and began a week - long sojourn . " Bootes " embarked upon the voyage back to the United States on 27 October and arrived in San Francisco , California , on 24 November . The ship loaded cargo at San Francisco and , on 13 December , laid in a course for Australia . She reached Australia in mid - January 1944 and , by 6 February , was operating between Australian ports and various locations on the eastern coast of New Guinea . An unusually quiet invasion of Aitape . During her operations between Australia and the coast of eastern New Guinea , " Bootes " took part in her only amphibious assault of the war . On 23 April , the day after the initial landings at Aitape , on the northeastern coast of New Guinea , she arrived off the invasion beaches there . The ship carried cargo and equipment for reinforcements belonging to the Army ' s 127th Regiment , 32d Infantry Division . She remained there for three days but saw no action . Etamin gets hit with a torpedo . In fact the only enemy air reaction came a little before midnight on the 27th when three Japanese aircraft scored a single torpedo hit on " Etamin " ( AK - 93 ) . When " Bootes " departed Aitape on 29 April , she had " Etamin " in tow for Langemak Bay located just to the south of Finschhafen on the Huon Peninsula of eastern New Guinea . Supplying Navy ships with ammunition . From there , the cargo ship continued on to Brisbane , Australia , where she arrived on 28 May . About a month later , she returned to the New Guinea coast to begin service as an ammunition issue ship at various locations on the island . Early in September , " Bootes " moved to Seeadler Harbor , Manus , where she resumed duty issuing ammunition to ships of the U . S . 7th Fleet . The cargo ship served at Seeadler Harbor from 7 September until 20 October , at which time she set sail for Australia . She arrived at Brisbane on the 28th and remained there until 14 November . Issuing ammunition at Leyte . On that day , " Bootes " put to sea bound ultimately for Leyte in the Philippines . She made stops on the New Guinea coast and , during the transit from New Guinea to Leyte , saw action against several Japanese air attacks . The cargo ship claimed two kills during those attacks while suffering no damage herself . She arrived safely at Leyte on 6 December and began a six - month tour of duty as an ammunition issue ship . End - of - war operations . " Bootes " concluded her assignment at Leyte on 12 June 1945 when she put to sea for Manus . She stopped at Seeadler Harbor from 22 June to 16 July before continuing on to Australia . The cargo ship arrived in Brisbane on the 22d and remained there for a month . On 23 August , she got underway for the Philippines . " Bootes " entered Leyte Gulf on 3 September and stayed there until late November . She embarked upon the voyage back to the United States on 27 November and reached Pearl Harbor in mid - December . Post - war decommissioning . " Bootes " was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor on 22 April 1946 . She was towed to San Francisco , California , in the spring of 1947 , and her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1947 . The ship was returned to the Maritime Commission on 11 September 1947 , and she was berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay , California . Final disposition : she was scrapped in 1973 . Military awards and honors . " Bootes " earned one battle star for World War II service . Her crew were eligible for the following medals :