USS Herkimer ( AK - 188 ) USS " Herkimer " ( AK - 188 ) was an " Alamosa " - class cargo ship that served the U . S . Navy during the final months of World War II . Post - war she served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations for some time with the U . S . Army as USAT " Herkimer " , and then as USNS " Herkimer " ( T - AK - 188 ) , with the Military Sea Transportation Service from 1950 to 1973 . She was then transferred to the navy of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and later returned to the U . S . and sold . Built in Superior , Wisconsin . " Herkimer " ( AK - 188 ) was laid down under U . S . Maritime Commission contract by Walter Butler Shipbuilders , Inc . , Superior , Wisconsin , 10 April 1944 ; launched 2 July 1944 ; sponsored by Miss Ann Farley ; acquired by the Navy 25 June 1945 ; and commissioned at New Orleans , Louisiana , 14 July 1945 , Lt . Carlton W . Crocker , Jr . , in command . World War II - related service . After shakedown in the Gulf of Mexico , " Herkimer " loaded cargo at Gulfport , Mississippi , then departed 22 August for the Western Pacific Ocean . She reached Subic Bay , Luzon , 7 October ; unloaded refrigerated cargo ; and sailed the 13th carrying U . S . Army equipment for occupation forces stationed in Japan . She arrived Sasebo , Japan , 20 October and operated there until 30 December when she departed for Yokosuka . Following her arrival 2 January 1946 , she was stripped of Navy gear . She then steamed to Yokohama 16 January , decommissioned 1 February , and transferred to the U . S . Army . Reacquired from the U . S . Army . " Herkimer " was operated by a Japanese merchant crew for the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Japan until 1 July 1950 when she was reacquired by the U . S . Navy . After refitting , she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service ( MSTS ) 28 February 1951 and designated " T - AK 188 " . Korean War support . Manned by a civilian crew , she participated in the Korean supply run from Japan supporting the repulse of Communist aggression in South Korea . Operating out of Moji , Kure , and Yokohama , she transported vital military cargo to American - held South Korean ports during the remainder of the conflict . Following the establishment 27 July 1953 of an uneasy truce , " Herkimer " continued supply runs between Japan and South Korea . In response to the scheduled transfer of North Vietnam to Communist control , she departed Yokohama 6 November 1954 to provide support for Operation Passage to Freedom . She reached Haiphong , North Vietnam , 15 November ; and during the next 2 months she transported cargo southward to St . Jacques and Saigon . After completing three runs to South Vietnam ese ports , she departed Saigon 23 January 1955 and arrived Kobe , Japan , 1 February . Resuming cargo runs out of Japanese ports , " Herkimer " remained in the Western Pacific since 1955 . Cargo operations have sent her primarily to Inchon , Pusan , and other South Korean ports ; and she has made numerous cargo runs along the Japanese coast from Wakkanai and Hakodate , Hokkaido , to Kagoshima and Nagasaki , Kyūshū . In addition she has steamed from Korea to Southeast Asia while supporting America ' s determination to maintain peace and contain Communism in the Far East . She has steamed from ports in Japan and the Philippine Islands , transporting military supplies to Formosa between 1961 and 1965 . Vietnam Crisis support . And in response to American efforts to protect the integrity and independence of South Vietnam from external Communist aggression , she resumed intermittent cargo runs to South Vietnam in February 1962 . She remained in the Western Pacific , serving the forces of freedom in the Far East as a veteran carrier of vital military cargo . Final dispositioning . " Herkimer " continued to support MSTS operations in the Pacific theatre until 15 July 1973 when she was placed out of service and struck from the Navy List . She was then transferred for use with the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands navy . She was eventually returned to the U . S . and sold for commercial service . Her subsequent fate is not known .