USS Mataco ( AT - 86 ) USS " Mataco " ( AT - 86 / ATF - 86 ) was a constructed for the United States Navy during World War II . Her purpose was to aid ships , usually by towing , on the high seas or in combat or post - combat areas , plus " other duties as assigned . " She served in the Pacific Ocean and , after a successful career , her crews returned home proudly displaying five battle star s for World War II , four battle stars for the Korean War , and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service . " Mataco " was laid down on 27 June 1942 by United Engineering Co . , San Francisco , California ; launched on 14 October 1942 , sponsored by Miss Evelyn B . Piper ; and commissioned on 29 May 1943 , Lt . William G . Baker in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . Following shakedown off San Diego , California , " Mataco " early proved her endurance when she towed a floating drydock 43 days nonstop from San Francisco to Brisbane , Australia , arriving on 1 October 1943 . This passage accounted for 6 , 800 of 55 , 000 miles steamed her first year . Salvage in combat areas . " Mataco " underwent her first air attack in the Ellice Islands on 17 November , and three days later stood by to aid ships invading the Gilberts . Training and target towing in Hawaiian waters preceded her joining task force TF 53 for the invasion of the Marshalls . She stood off Kwajalein on 31 January 1944 to screen transports , free beached landing craft , and send her divers to recover documents from sunken Japanese ships . " Mataco " was redesignated ATF - 86 on 15 May . She carried out escort and towing missions in the Marshalls and to the Gilberts , Marianas , and Pearl Harbor until 3 December , when Ulithi became her base for the next six months . Missed by a torpedo . In January 1945 she carried out a major salvage assignment at Leyte , in February she made a tow to Saipan and Guam , and in April she joined the assault on Okinawa . There on 2 April an aerial torpedo passed harmlessly beneath her keel . End - of - war operations . " Mataco " pitched in on the enormous amount of salvage work to be done around Okinawa , and at the war ' s end began tows to Japan . She returned home as she had come to war , towing a drydock from Guam via Pearl Harbor to San Francisco , California , where she moored 25 July . Five months later , on 19 December , she returned to the western Pacific on the first of the annual deployments to the U . S . 7th Fleet which alternated with U . S . West Coast and Alaskan duty . Korean War service . She was in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 , and after investigating smuggling in the Ryūkyūs , sailed to Korea , where she performed combat salvage and air sea rescue missions beginning with the 15 September Inchon landings . In mid - October she rounded the peninsula , extending those services to Wonsan . Target towing missions in Japan and between Guam and Pearl Harbor completed this tour , and she arrived in San Diego , California , 12 August 1951 . " Mataco " began her next western Pacific deployment on 10 January 1952 and during the next 14 months supported United Nations forces in Korea , in October twice rendering fire support at Pippa Kotsu . The next year she reported for three continuous years of Far Eastern service , and from 1956 to 1966 , made five additional U . S . 7th Fleet cruises as well as serving in Alaskan waters for four extended periods . Vietnam War operations . On 29 February 1967 she began a tour which brought her for the first time to the coast of embattled Vietnam . On 21 April " Mataco " brought " YFR - 890 " in tow to Vũng Tàu , and in May took up fishing trawler surveillance on " Yankee Station " . After towing a damaged LST from Da Nang to Guam in July , she trained Korean navy men in salvage in Chinhae , then returned San Diego on 6 November . In March 1968 the Mataco began her second West - Pac tour towing the YD - 91 floating crane ) to Guam . On to Subic and pick up a floating hospital barge to two to Danang . Then on to Yankee Station to provide specialized electronic cover with the 7th fleet . An at sea mishap caused the loss of radar capabilities and shortened the time on station . After repairs , the Mataco went into the upper reaches of the Saigon River in the vicinity of Nha Be to tow the mined SS Cuba Victory to Yokosuka Japan . Operating from Yokosuka she participated in the rescue of the USS Asheville ( PG - 84 ) and SS Plymouth Victory . She was also on secret standby to act as the rescue tug for the captured USS Pueblo , had the decision been made to go get the spy ship . When the stand - by duty was competed , trailing two tows she sailed back to Danang and Nha Be . After delivering them she headed for Sattahip Thailand . She provided for launch and retrieve and savage services for the Royal Thai Navy . The crew offered up the new designation : CV - AFT - 86 . In 1967 and 1968 , the Mataco earned the Commander ' s Service Force , U . S . Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency " E . " When she arrived back in San Diego on 3 Oct , 1968 , the ' 68 West - Pac had covered 26 , 200 miles . The hard working fleet tug remained an active unit of the Pacific Fleet into 1969 . Awards . " Mataco " received five battle stars for World War II : Four battle stars were awarded during the Korean War : She received seven campaign stars for her participation in the Vietnam War :