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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AP-62 Kenmore / AH-11 Refuge

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Delta - Hotel
 NKDH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Transport / Hospital Ship;
  • Laid down as SS Blue Hen State, 4 March 1920, for the Emergency Fleet Corp., under USSB Contract # 2591, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J., assigned to the United States Mail Line
  • Launched, 23 February 1921
  • Delivered, 6 July 1921 and laid up until March 1922
  • Renamed SS President Garfield in May 1922
  • Transferred to the United States Lines in August 1922
  • Sold to the Dollar Line in August 1923
  • Transferred to American President Lines in 1938, renamed SS President Madison
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission, 11 April 1942, for conversion to a Naval Transport
  • Commissioned USS Kenmore (AP-62), 5 August 1942, at Baltimore, MD., CDR. Myron T. Richardson USN in command
  • During World War II Kenmore was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign;
  • Decommissioned, 16 September 1943, at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore MD., for conversion to a Hospital Ship
  • Recommissioned USS Refuge (AH-11), 24 February 1944, CDR. M. A. Jurkops in command
  • During World War II Refuse was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters
  • Decommissioned, 2 April 1946 at Seattle, WA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 February 1948, to Consolidated Builders, Seattle, WA.
  • Kenmore received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications (AH):
    Displacement 16,800 t.(fl)
    Length 522' 8"
    Beam 62'
    Draft 26'
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement 543
    Patient Capacity 626
    Armament none
    Propulsion reciprocating engines, twin screws, 7,000hp.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Refuge 60k SS President Garfield underway in the livery of the Dollar Steamship Line, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USS Refuse (AH-11)
    Refuge 70k Refuse (AH-11) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Naval Hospital Corps School web site
    View the Kenmore (AP-62) / Refuge (AH-11)
    DANFS history entry located the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index Back To The Hospital Ship (AH) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 11 January 2008