USS Chickasaw ( AT - 83 ) USS " Chickasaw " ( AT - 83 / ATF - 83 ) was a constructed for the United States Navy during World War II . She served in the Pacific Ocean in World War II and the Korean War , and was awarded six battle star s for World War II and two battle stars during the Korean War . She was the third U . S . Navy vessel to be named " Chickasaw " , and was launched 23 July 1942 by United Engineering Co . , Ltd . , Alameda , California ; sponsored by Mrs . R . Fairbanks ; commissioned 4 February 1943 , Lieutenant ( junior grade ) J . F . King in command ; and reported to the Pacific Fleet . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . " Chickasaw " departed Seattle , Washington , 11 March 1943 , for Pearl Harbor towing yard floating drydock YFD - 21 , and arrived on 30 March . Sailing on to Espiritu Santo , " Chickasaw " served as station tug until 27 June , when she stood out for Pearl Harbor . Arriving 6 July , she had salvage duty , towed targets , laid buoys , and made tows to Midway Island until 21 January 1944 , when she sailed for the Marshalls . Supporting island invasions . " Chickasaw " supported the occupation of Kwajalein , Majuro , and Eniwetok until 19 March , when she cleared Kwajalein for Pearl Harbor , arriving 27 March . She sailed from Pearl Harbor on 11 May , was reclassified ATF - 83 on 15 May , and arrived at Majuro on 24 May for training duty . Clearing the Marshalls on 11 June , " Chickasaw " arrived off Saipan on 16 June for tug duties , patrol , and salvage in support of the occupation of that island until 24 July . Similar duty found " Chickasaw " off Tinian from 24 July 1944 . After continued salvage duty in the Marianas " Chickasaw " cleared Saipan on 18 September for Guam , Eniwetok , and Manus , arriving 4 October . Supporting the invasion of the Philippines . Six days later she sailed for the assault on Leyte , arriving in Leyte Gulf on 20 October . Here she conducted salvage and rescue operations through the landings , the fury of the Battle for Leyte Gulf , and the occupation , until 22 November when she sailed for replenishment and salvage duty at Manus . On 27 December she got underway for Lingayen Gulf , arriving 9 January 1945 for salvage operations during the assault . She remained at Lingayen , Subic Bay , and San Pedro Bay on similar duty until 4 March , when she cleared for overhaul and tug duties at Ulithi . From 9 – 22 June she next operated off Okinawa , then sailed for Pearl Harbor , where she arrived 24 July for yard overhaul . Post - war activity . Variously based at San Diego , California , Pearl Harbor , and in the Marianas between World War II and the Korean War , " Chickasaw " served the Fleet with towing , salvage , and other tug duty which took her throughout the Pacific . Korean War support . During the first year of the Korean War , she operated on the U . S . West Coast , to Pearl Harbor , and to Eniwetok and Kwajalein , and during the summer of 1951 , sailed in Alaskan waters . After west coast operations , she cleared Pearl Harbor on 3 March 1953 for Sasebo , her base for direct support to forces engaged in the Korean War . Returning to San Diego , California , 17 October , she resumed an operating schedule which through 1960 included Alaskan operations in 1954 - 55 and 1957 , and deployments to the Far East in 1957 - 58 , 1959 , and 1960 . Decommissioning . After being decommissioned ( date unknown ) she was struck from the Naval Register on 15 April 1976 . She was sold to the Republic of China under the Security Assistance Program , 1 May 1976 , and renamed " Ta Tung " ( A - 548 ) . Her ultimate fate is unknown . Awards . " Chickasaw " received six battle stars for World War II service , and two for Korean War service .