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T-APC-117 / T-AGS-35 Sgt. George D. Keathley


USNS George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) was transferred to Taiwan, renamed Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top row - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Bottom Row - Korean Service Medal (9) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Sgt. Jonah E. Kelly Class Coastal Transport:
  • Laid down, 16 June 1944, as Alexander R. Nininger a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2247) at Walter Butler Shipbuilders Inc., Duluth, MN.
  • Launched, 7 December 1944
  • Renamed Acorn Knot in February 1945
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 30 March 1945 for operation by Grace Lines
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission and assigned to the Army Transportation Service, 28 July 1946
  • Renamed USAT Sgt. George D. Keathley in March 1949
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 1 July 1950
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
  • Placed in service as USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-116)
  • Placed out of service, 11 December 1956
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, N.Y
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 24 October 1957
  • Custody assigned to MARAD
  • Reacquired by the US Navy in December 1956
  • Converted to a Hydrographic Survey Ship at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
  • Placed out of service in December 1971
  • Transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in March 1972, renamed Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976
  • Struck from the Republic of China Naval Register in August 1988
  • Final Disposition, returned to US custody and disposed of as a target
  • Sgt. George D. Keathley was awarded nine campaign stars for her service during the Korean Conflict
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,366 t.(lt) 6,090 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 9"
    Beam 50' 4"
    Draft 17' 7"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement
    (APC) crew 148
    (AGS) unknown
    APC-Troop Accommodation 101
    Armament
    APC unknown
    AGS none
    Propulsion diesel, single propeller.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117)
    Keathley 89k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117) in port, probably in Japan, January 1955. Photo taken by a Commander Naval Forces Far East Photographer.
    US Navy photo # NH 98932 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Keathley 92k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117) in port, probably in Japan, January 1955. Photo taken by a Commander Naval Forces Far East Photographer.
    US Navy photo # NH 98933 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
    Keathley 69k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., during the 1960s.
    US Navy photo # NH 98935 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Keathley 32k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) moored, date and place unknown. Ramon Jackson
    Keathley 84k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) moored inboard of Dutton (T-AGS-22), date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Carl R. Friberg Jr.,
    First Officer Sgt George E. Keathley
    ROCS Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
    Keathley 22k ex-Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) in Taiwanese service as Chu Hwa (AGS-564) Taiwan Navy Web Site
    Keathley 16k ex-Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) in Taiwanese service as Chu Hwa (AGS-564) Taiwan Navy Web Site
    View the Sgt George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Oceanographer of the Navy
    Navy Survey Ships (AGS)
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