USS Lassen ( AE - 3 ) USS " Lassen " ( AE - 3 ) ex - SS " Shooting Star " , was an ammunition cargo ship of the U . S . Navy during World War II . Like many Naval ships of this category that carried large amounts of explosive cargo , she was named for a volcano ( or a volcanic island ) . In this case , the ships was named for Lassen Peak , a volcano in northern California that erupted heavily in 1914 - 17 . Construction and commission . USS " Lassen " was built by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company in Tampa , Florida , under a Maritime Commission contract , as the SS " Shooting Star " . She was launched on 10 January 1940 , christened by Mrs . Fred C . Cone . The ship was acquired by the Navy on 15 November 1940 , and commissioned four days later for transfer to a shipyard in Mobile , Alabama , for conversion to a Naval ammunition ship , with Lt . Cmdr . A . B . Kerr in command . She was re - commissioned in her modified form on 27 March 1941 , with Commander Russell S . Berkey of the U . S . Navy in command . Service history . World War II . In the months previous to the outbreak of World War II for the United States , the USS " Lassen " made ammunition deliveries along both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the U . S . , and in July 1941 , she steamed to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , and then returned to the Atlantic Coast . On 22 November 1941 , she departed from Norfolk , Virginia , en route to San Francisco , her homeport , and War broke out during this voyage . After round - trip delivery voyages to the Samoa Islands , the Fiji Islands , and Pearl Harbor , the " Lassen " began duty as an advanced base supply ship . Departing from San Francisco on 26 August 1942 , the " Lassen " replenished naval ships in New Caledonia from 19 September to 17 January 1943 . The " Lassen " arrived back at San Francisco on 23 January 1943 for repairs , the installation of radar equipment , and an upgrade in her air - defense armament . On 18 May 1943 , the " Lassen " arrived at Espiritu Santo , in the New Hebrides , to resume dispensing war ammunition to the Navy fleet in the South Pacific . She also resupplied warships from to port of Efate , New Hebrides , and Noumea , New Caledonia , before returning to San Francisco on 24 November . An overhaul period in a drydock was but a prelude to a more extensive stay in the war zone supplying the American warships that were battling the Imperial Japanese Navy . As a part of Vice - Admiral W . L . Calhoun ’ s 7th Force , Pacific Fleet , the USS " Lassen " arrived at Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands on 2 February 1944 . She replenished ships both in the Marshall Islands and at Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands . As part of the supply train of the fleet at Kossol Passage , Palau Islands , from 25 September to 2 October and at Ulithi Atoll from 4 October to 18 November 1944 , she earned her first battle star . During the latter period , the USS " Lassen " rode out a severe typhoon , and she also battled against her first enemy air attack . Upon returning to the western Caroline Islands on 23 February 1945 , the " Lassen " , along with her sister ammunition ships , worked out techniques for transferring large quantities of ammunition to warships while underway at sea . The " Lassen " exhibited this new ability and mobility by accompanying aircraft carrier Task Group 50 . 8 in raids from 13 March to 14 June 1945 , while supporting the conquest of Okinawa campaign . The " Lassen ' s " third battle star was earned while accompanying carrier Task Group 30 . 8 from 8 July to 6 August off the coasts of Japan itself . Post - war . The end of the war at V - J Day found the " Lassen " operating out of San Pedro Bay , Leyte . On the 25th of October , she departed the former war zone at last for the United States , via Eniwetok Atoll , where she embarked 112 passengers , for their transportation to the West Coast . There was little need for ammunition ships like the USS " Lassen " during the period of huge peacetime demobilization of the Navy fleet that followed World War II . The " Lassen " was noted for carrying out her dangerous ammunition delivery and handling duties without any serious incidents during the War in the Pacific . She was held in port first at Port Discovery , Washington , from 20 November 1945 to 2 March 1946 , and then she proceeded down the West Coast in stages , arriving at San Diego on 27 March 1946 . The USS " Lassen " was decommissioned on 15 January 1947 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet . She remained a part of this reserved fleet until she was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1961 for disposal . Merits . The USS " Lassen " received three battle star s for her World War II service .