USS Pollux ( AKS - 4 ) USS " Pollux " ( AKS - 4 ) was a " Castor " - class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II . She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to locations in the war zone . The third ship to be named " Pollux " by the Navy , " AKS – 4 " was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co . , Kearney , New Jersey as " SS Nancy Lykes " for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company , 2 October 1941 ; launched 5 February 1942 ; acquired by the Navy 19 March ; transferred to the Robbins Dry Dock and Repair Co . , Brooklyn , New York , for conversion ; and commissioned 27 April 1942 ; Capt . E . J . Kidder in command . World War II service . After a shakedown cruise , " Pollux " operated as a unit of the Commander , Service Force , Atlantic . She supplied forces afloat and Allied bases at Guantánamo Bay , Cuba ; St . Thomas , Virgin Islands ; San Juan , Puerto Rico ; Trinidad and Jamaica , West Indies ; Colón , Panama Canal Zone ; Recife and Bahia , Brazil ; and Bermuda . She operated out of the U . S . East Coast ports of New York , Bayonne , New Jersey , Baltimore , Maryland , and Norfolk , Virginia . Transfer to Pacific Fleet . " Pollux " sailed 24 August 1943 for duty in the Pacific Ocean , sailing independently from the Panama Canal Zone to Sydney , Australia . During the next 15 months she supported the Eastern and Western New Guinea Campaigns , and the Admiralty Islands Campaign . During this period she made numerous trips replenishing her stores from Sydney and Brisbane , Australia ; Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides ; and Oakland , California . End - of - war operations . " Pollux " then supported the Philippine Liberation Campaign . Operating out of New Guinea she ran a shuttle service between the islands servicing forces afloat and bases at Leyte Gulf ; Mangarin Bay , Mindoro ; Lingayen Gulf ; Subic Bay , Tawitawi , Sulu Archipelago ; Morotai ; Parang , Mindanao ; Taloma Bay , Davao Gulf ; Zamboanga . Puerto Princessa , Palawan ; Iloilo , Panay ; Cebu City , Cebu . and Manila . On 18 February 1945 " Pollux " evacuated 124 repatriates from Lingayen Gulf . These men were the first POW ’ s to be freed by our troops in the Manila area . During World War II " Pollux " steamed 136 , 152 miles , generally on unescorted supply lines . Although she received no battle stars , her services permitted our fleet to operate far in advance of normal bases . Atomic testing at Bikini . After World War II she operated in the Pacific with Service Squadron 1 earning the Navy Occupation Service Medal , 9 October to 12 November 1945 ; participating in the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll ; and earning the China Service Medal for periods from 29 March 1947 to 6 August 1949 . Reactivated during Korean War . " Pollux " was placed in commission in reserve 3 April 1950 , but recommissioned 5 August 1950 . She served in the Korean War during periods from 13 October 1950 to 19 July 1953 . From July 1953 through 1957 her operations continued between the West Coast of the United States and ports of the Far East , including Japan , Korea , and the Philippines . Final operations . After an extensive overhaul and modernization in 1958 , " Pollux " was assigned the homeport of Yokosuka , Japan , with Service Group 3 , never to see the U . S . again . With the outset of the Vietnam War , " Pollux " served almost continually in the South China Seas supplying the various task groups of the U . S . 7th Fleet . Final decommissioning . " Pollux " decommissioned at Yokosuka , Japan , 31 December 1968 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 January 1969 . Military awards and honors . " Pollux " received five battle stars for Korean War service : " Pollux " received seven campaign stars for the Vietnam War : " Pollux ’ " crew members were eligible for the following medals : Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal ( extended ) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal ( with Asia clasp ) - National Defense Service Medal ( 2 ) - Korean Service Medal ( 5 ) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ( 6 - Taiwan Straits , 1 - Quemoy - Matsu , 7 - Vietnam ) - Vietnam Service Medal ( 7 ) - Philippine Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal ( retroactive )