USS Chipola ( AO - 63 ) USS " Chipola " ( AO - 63 ) was a " Cimarron " - class fleet oiler acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II . She served her country primarily in the Pacific Theater of Operations , and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships . For performing this dangerous task in combat areas , she was awarded three battle star s during World War II and thirteen campaign star s during the Vietnam War . " Chipola " was launched 21 October 1944 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , Sparrows Point , Maryland ; Maritime Commission hull 729 , sponsored by Mrs . P . C . Chubb ; and commissioned 30 November 1944 , Commander E . G . Genthner , USNR , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Chipola " arrived at Eniwetok from the U . S . East Coast and the Netherlands West Indies 31 January 1945 . She fueled ships in the harbor , and sailed 9 February to operate at sea , serving the ships of the fast carrier task forces raiding Tokyo in preparation for the invasion of Iwo Jima , and then the assault ships which carried out the landings on 19 February . Four days later , " Chipola " arrived at Ulithi , out of which she sailed between 23 March and 26 August , supporting the carrier task forces in the raids which preceded the Okinawa assault , and in their continuing operations during the conquest of the island . From July , she provided the oil which enabled the carriers and their screening ships to carry out a constant series of air attacks and bombardments on the Japanese home islands . End - of - war activity . The oiler sailed from Ulithi 8 September 1945 to serve as station tanker at Tokyo Bay and other Far Eastern ports . Between 20 February and 18 March 1946 , she sailed to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to load oil , returning to station tanker duty at Sasebo . After spending the summer on the U . S . West Coast for repairs , she returned to duty in the western Pacific from September 1946 to May 1947 , making three voyages to Bahrain during that time . Returning to the west coast for repairs , " Chipola " put to sea again 13 June 1947 , and sailed west to Bahrain and the Suez Canal , making passage to Norfolk where she arrived 21 August . Almost constantly at sea on the important never - ending duty of keeping the fleet supplied with petroleum products , she voyaged from Norfolk to Bahrain , then sailed to make two voyages between Aruba and the Panama Canal Zone . She sailed from Cristóbal , for Bahrain , continuing through the Far East to San Diego , California , where she was overhauled . Mediterranean duty . In the second half of 1948 , " Chipola " served ships operating in the Far East once more , making two voyages from Japan to the Persian Gulf oil ports . She returned to west coast operations until 2 September 1949 , when she sailed for the Panama Canal and brief duty in the Mediterranean . " Chipola " sailed from Naples , Italy , for Norfolk , Virginia , and between November and July 1950 , made three voyages transporting oil from the east to the west coast . The oiler operated on the east coast and in the Caribbean until October 1950 , when she sailed by way of Bahrain for Sasebo . She proceeded from Sasebo to Bahrain in December , and on the last day of the year sailed for San Francisco , California , and west coast duty until May 1951 . Then she returned to the east coast , and carried oil from the Caribbean to Norfolk , as well as twice serving in the Mediterranean , until 3 May 1955 when she was placed in commission in reserve at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . She was decommissioned 1 August 1955 . Service with the MSTS . " Chipola " was recommissioned 29 December 1956 for service with the Military Sea Transportation Service until once more placed out of commission in reserve 7 November 1957 . She was recommissioned 17 December 1960 and served with the Pacific Fleet . " Chipola " received three battle stars for World War II service and thirteen for campaign stars during the Vietnam War . Awards . Battle stars awarded during World War II : Campaign stars awarded during the Vietnam War :