USS Alkes ( AK - 110 ) USS " Alkes " ( AK - 110 ) was an commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II , named after Alkes , the alpha star in constellation Crater . She was responsible for delivering troops , goods and equipment to locations in the war zone . SS " Increase A . Lapham " was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract ( MC hull 1584 ) on 10 June 1943 at Richmond , California , by the Permanente Metals Corp . ; launched on 29 June 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Chester P . Kenman ; acquired by the Navy on 5 October 1943 ; converted for naval service by the Hurley Marine Works , Oakland , California ; renamed " Alkes " ( AK - 110 ) on 6 October 1943 ; and placed in commission at Oakland on 29 October 1943 , Comdr . W . H . Wight in command . World War II Pacific Theater operations . After shakedown training , the new cargo ship got underway for Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , her base of operations while she carried supplies to the forward areas in the Pacific Ocean . In early December , the ship sailed to the Gilbert Islands with Task Unit ( TU ) 16 . 15 . 1 . She reached Makin Island on the 16th and commenced unloading . The ship moved to Baker Island on the 31st to take on cargo prior to returning to Pearl Harbor , where she arrived on 13 January 1944 . Supplying forces in the Marshall Islands . Shortly after returning to Hawaii , the vessel began taking on supplies and equipment for another shuttle run . " Alkes " sailed on 25 January for the Marshall Islands . Upon reaching Majuro Atoll , on 3 February , the ship began unloading her cargo to support ongoing landing operations . One week later , she reversed her course and arrived back at Pearl Harbor on 21 February . Supplying the South Pacific forces . " Alkes " got underway again on 12 March , bound for the Marshall and Gilbert Islands with Task Group 16 . 12 . Among her ports of call were Eniwetok , Kwajalein , and Majuro , Marshall Islands ; and Tarawa and Makin , Gilbert Islands . " Alkes " returned to Pearl Harbor on 8 May to replenish her cargo . She shaped a course back to the Marshalls on the 22d and made stops at Kwajalein and Eniwetok . The vessel arrived at Guam on 8 August , where she remained for one month discharging cargo and delivering fresh water to various ships of the fleet . Repairs Stateside . " Alkes " arrived back at Pearl Harbor on 11 September . After 10 days in port , she continued sailing east toward the United States . The vessel reached San Pedro , California , on 3 October and , shortly thereafter , began alterations and repairs . She moved to San Francisco , California , on the 27th to take on cargo and , on 6 November , sailed for Pearl Harbor . Return trips to the South Pacific . The ship reached Hawaiian waters on the 16th and sailed the next day for Eniwetok , Guam , and Ulithi . " Alkes " reached Ulithi on 13 December and assumed duty there as a fleet issue ship . She operated at Ulithi until 6 February 1945 , when she got underway for a return voyage to California . " Alkes " arrived at San Pedro on 4 March and underwent repairs while taking on supplies and equipment . She sailed on the 23d to resume her cargo operations in the Western Pacific . On 12 April , the ship returned to Ulithi , where she remained until late May , preparing for the impending assault on the Ryūkyūs . Supporting Okinawa invasion operations . " Alkes " got underway with TU 13 . 11 . 2 on 23 May , bound for Okinawa . She remained off that island and Kerama Retto from 28 May through 13 August issuing her cargo to units of the invasion force . She experienced numerous air attacks but continued to carry out her duties without sustaining any serious damage . Return to Stateside duties . She left Okinawa in mid - August and sailed via Ulithi to the west coast of the United States . The ship again reached San Pedro on 14 September and remained there until early January 1946 , serving as a fleet issue ship . On 3 January , she set a course for the U . S . East Coast . Having transited the Panama Canal , Alkes arrived at Norfolk , Virginia , on the 31st . Inactivation and decommissioning . Preparations for her inactivation were then begun . The vessel sailed to Baltimore , Maryland , on 8 February and was placed out of commission there on 20 February 1946 . She was returned to the Maritime Administration on 27 February , and her name was struck from the Navy List on 12 March 1946 . The ship was subsequently laid up in the James River as SS " Increase A . Lapham " . She was sold on 26 October 1971 to Hierros Ardes S . A . , Bilbao , Spain , for scrapping . Military awards and honors . " Alkes " won three battle star s for her World War II service . Her crew was eligible for the following medals :