USS Kewaydin ( AT - 24 ) USS Kewaydin ( AT - 24 ) was an laid down for the U . S . Navy in the closing days of World War I and continued in operation throughout World War II . " Kewaydin " ( AT - 24 ) was launched 25 June 1919 by Ferguson Steel & Iron Co . , Buffalo , New York ; accepted by the Navy 31 October , and commissioned as " USS Kewaydin " ( Fleet Tug No . 24 ) , 4 November 1919 , Lt . M . A . McDuffied in command . She was redesignated Fleet Tug ( AT - 24 ) , 17 July 1920 , and on 14 May 1944 , she was reclassified Fleet Tug Old , ( ATO - 24 ) . Post - World War I operations . Assigned to the 5th Naval District , " Kewaydin " arrived Norfolk , Virginia , 19 June 1920 . For more than 22 years she operated out of Norfolk from Boston , Massachusetts , to Charleston , South Carolina , towing ships and targets and performing yard , harbor , and salvage duty . World War II North Atlantic operations . She departed New York 16 November 1942 with an Iceland - bound convoy and was damaged while steaming through heavy seas 19 – 27 November After repairs at St . Johns , Newfoundland , she arrived Hvalfjörður , Iceland , 22 December . Assigned to the Naval Operating Base , she towed gasoline barges , provided harbor tug services , and assisted in salvage operations . On 13 April 1943 she assisted in freeing , grounded off Akureyri along the northern coast of Iceland . Coastal rescue operations . " Kewaydin " departed Reykjavík 19 April for Argentia , Newfoundland , where she arrived 28 April for duty as harbor tug and target - towing ship for Task Force 22 . She served at Argentia until she sailed 2 June for Norfolk , arriving on the 7th . Resuming duty out of Norfolk , " Kewaydin " towed antisubmarine and surface targets in Chesapeake Bay and steamed from Maine to South Carolina on towing and salvage duty . While steaming off Cape Henry 17 and 18 November , she helped to free grounded ; and during towing operations along the New England coast 11 to 13 December , she searched for SS " Suffolk " , disabled in heavy seas . Sailing the Atlantic for England . Departing Charleston , South Carolina , 25 January 1944 , " Kewaydin " steamed in convoy via Bermuda and the Azores for England . She reached Falmouth , England on 13 March , and for more than 2 months she made towing runs along the southern coast of England from Falmouth to the River Thames . Supporting the Normandy invasion . Reclassified as ATO - 24 on 13 April , " Kewaydin " joined in the Normandy Invasion . Departing Selsey , England , 8 June , she towed lightship " AL - 28 " to Utah Beach at St . Laurent , France . Between 8 June and 14 January 1945 she made 22 Channel crossings . Although harassed by unfavorable weather and German V - 1 robot - bombs , she towed barges and landing craft from Lee - on - Solent , Falmouth , Plymouth , Portland , and other English ports to St . Laurent , Arromanches , Cherbourg , and Calais , France . While anchored at Dungeness , England on 29 June , she was slightly damaged by a V - 1 robot - bomb that exploded close aboard after being shot down by British fighters . End - of - war operations . " Kewaydin " continued operating along the English coast until she departed Plymouth , England , 16 March 1945 for the United States . Steaming via Belfast , Northern Ireland , she reached Cape Cod , Massachusetts on 12 April and arrived Norfolk 22 April . After a complete overhaul , she sailed 16 June with " YR - 31 " in tow . Steaming via Bermuda , Cuba , and the Panama Canal , she reached San Diego , California on 31 July as the Navy ' s final blows against Japan brought the war in the Pacific to a close . " Kewaydin " decommissioned at San Diego 10 December and was transferred to the Maritime Commission . She was sold to Bay Cities Transportation Co . , San Francisco , California , 23 December . Military awards and honors . " Kewaydin " received one battle star for World War II service . Her crew members were authorized the following medals :