USS Capricornus ( AKA - 57 ) USS " Capricornus " ( AKA - 57 / LKA - 57 ) was an named after the zodiacal constellation " Capricornus . " " Capricornus " ( AKA - 57 ) was launched on 14 August 1943 as Spitfire by Moore Dry Dock Co . , Oakland , California , under a Maritime Commission contract , sponsored by Mrs . J . E . Mock , acquired by the Navy on 25 November 1943 , placed in partial commission the same day , decommissioned on 29 November 1943 , and converted by Willamette Iron and Steel Works , Portland , Oregon , and commissioned in full on 31 May 1944 , Commander B . F . McGuckin , USNR , in command . Service history . 1944 – 1948 . " Capricornus " made two voyages to carry cargo between San Pedro , California , and Hilo , Hawaii , from 22 July to 19 August 1944 , then sailed by way of Eniwetok and Manus for the invasion of Leyte . Cruising with the Southern Attack Force , she entered the Gulf uneventfully , began landing her cargo in the first landings on 20 October , and worked furiously under enemy air attack to complete unloading and withdraw . Safely underway on 24 October , she withdrew to Hollandia , then sailed to Wakde , where she loaded Army reinforcements . As she steamed north to bring her reinforcements to Leyte , there were several air raid alerts on 13 November , and " Capricornus " joined in splashing the lone torpedo plane which attacked her group . She returned from Leyte to Manus 19 November to take part in rehearsals for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf . Clearing Manus in TF 79 ' s Attack Group " Baker " for Lingayen , " Capricornus " with her group came under desperate enemy air attack at sunset on 8 January 1945 , when a kamikaze severely damaged . As scattered individual enemy aircraft continued to attack , " Capricornus " ' guns joined in driving them away . The landings took place on schedule on 9 January , although sporadic attacks by Japanese aircraft and small ships continued . Just before sunrise the next day , " Capricornus " was straddled by two bombs close aboard , spraying her with shrapnel , but no serious damage was inflicted . " Capricornus " returned to Leyte Gulf on 13 January and continued to support Philippine operations , landing troops and equipment at San Antonio on 26 January , and servicing landing craft . She sailed out of Leyte Gulf on 27 March , bound for the beaches of Okinawa . In the grey dawn of 1 April 1945 , " Capricornus " arrived at the invasion scene , laden primarily with ammunition . For the next eight days , her men labored to deliver her priority cargo , while manning anti - aircraft guns almost continually as furious Japanese air attacks were hurled at the invasion forces . Night retirements , and days off the beaches were the rule until 9 April , when she cleared for Seattle , Washington , and overhaul . " Capricornus " sailed from San Francisco on 2 June 1945 with cargo for Eniwetok , Guam , and Espiritu Santo , at which island she heard the word of Japanese surrender . Carrying occupation troops , she stood in to Nagasaki on 23 September , then sailed to Manila and Hong Kong to load Chinese troops for the reoccupation of Northern China . Similar support of the occupation continued until 11 December when she arrived at Seattle . Between 8 February 1946 and 2 November 1947 , " Capricornus " carried cargo on four voyages to the Far East , and on 16 November sailed for Norfolk , Virginia . Here she was placed out of commission in reserve on 30 March 1948 . 1950 – 1970 . With the expansion of the fleet dictated by the outbreak of the Korean War , " Capricornus " was recommissioned on 12 October 1950 . Through 1960 , she operated from Norfolk in training and exercises in Chesapeake Bay and in the Caribbean , along with five periodic deployments to the Mediterranean for service with the 6th Fleet . Notable in her operations were her rescue and salvage assistance to the burning radar picket on 13 November 1955 , followed by the difficult towing of the rescued ship to Brooklyn for repairs . In July 1958 , " Capricornus " supported the landing of Marines in Lebanon which forestalled a serious Middle Eastern eruption . Decommissioning and disposal . " Capricornus " was redesignated LKA - 57 on 1 January 1969 , and decommissioned on 10 February 1970 . Transferred to the custody of the Maritime Administration the ship was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet , at James River , Virginia . Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 January 1977 , she was reported scrapped in Spain on 16 May 1985 . Awards . " Capricornus " received four battle stars for World War II service .