USS Chehalis ( AOG - 48 ) USS " Chehalis " ( AOG - 48 ) was a acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet , and to remote Navy stations . The vessel was named in honor of Chehalis , Lewis County , Washington State . " Chehalis " was laid down on 6 November 1943 at Savage , Minnesota , by Cargill , Inc . ; launched on 15 April 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . John H . MacMillan , Sr . ; and commissioned on 5 December 1944 , Lt . Edward G . Rifenburgh , D - M , USNR , in command . World War II service . Following her shakedown , " Chehalis " cleared Galveston , Texas , on 5 January 1945 to call at San Diego , California , en route to Pearl Harbor , which she reached on 6 February . Until 14 April , she carried out fueling operations in the Hawaiian Islands and at Canton in the Phoenix group , aiding the many ships conducting their training in these areas . Sailing west , she put in to Kossol Roads , Palaus , before arriving in San Pedro Bay , Philippine Islands , on 5 May with a cargo of aviation gasoline and lubricants for forces in the Philippines . For the next three months , she fueled motor torpedo boats and U . S . Army crash boats operating along the Leyte coast , and from 6 August to 23 November provided similar service to motor torpedo boats at Okinawa , her crew developing " a fine sense of familiarity with their battle stations " despite never being a direct target of Japanese aircraft during the course of hostilities . Surviving typhoons . Thrice during " Chehalis ' s " time at Okinawa , twice in September and once in October , typhoons forced a suspension of normal operations and compelled the ship to get underway to ride out the storms . Having finished her task in the western Pacific Ocean , the ship departed Buckner Bay on 26 November for Olympia , Washington , reaching her destination on 19 December to receive the " warm welcome of the people of the city of Chehalis . . . who had paid for the ship with their war bonds [ and who ] expressed their thanks to the Navy in the hospitality shown her crew . " Post - war activity . After overhaul at Puget Sound , " Chehalis " returned to the Hawaiian Islands on 23 March 1946 , and for the next three and a half years carried aviation gasoline , airplane lubricating oil , and diesel oil among the Hawaiian group and to the Pacific islands to the westward , calling at Johnston Island , Palmyra Island , Samoa , Canton Island , Kwajalein , Midway Island , Saipan , Truk , Manus , Iwo Jima , and Eniwetok . Disaster in Samoa . At 01 : 23 ( Samoan time ) on 7 October 1949 , as " Chehalis " lay alongside the navy dock at Tutuila , American Samoa , one of her gasoline tanks exploded , killing six of her 75 - man crew . The ship burst into flames , capsized , and sank in 45 feet of water . She later slid off the ledge , atop of which she had originally sunk , into 150 feet of water . She was stricken from the Naval Register on 27 October 1949 . Her salvaged hulk was later sold to the government of American Samoa in a contract entered into on 21 October 1955 . " Chehalis " was carrying a cargo of ammunition and petroleum when it sank . After evidence of significant leakage of fuel from the wrecked ship , environmental risk assessments indicated that that the remaining fuel aboard needed be removed . The fuel was removed by April 2010 , but no steps were taken to remove the ammunition aboard the wreck as it was not considered to be necessary . Military awards and honors . " Chehalis ’ " crew was eligible for the following medals :