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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248)
ex
 USAT Sgt. George Peterson (1948 - 1950)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 9 March 1945, as MV Coastal Guide, a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2172), at Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI.
  • Launched, 13 May 1945
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 16 July 1945
  • Operated by Polaris SS Co., 17 December 1945 to 16 July 1946
  • Operated by United Fruit Co., 16 July to 21 November 1946
  • Operated by Lykes Bros. SS. Co., 21 November 1946 to 22 June 1948
  • Acquired by the US Army, 23 June 1948, renamed USAT Sgt George Peterson
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950, and placed in service by MSTS as USNS Sgt George Peterson (T-AK-248)
  • Placed out of service, 27 March 1959, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
  • Struck from the Naval Register in 1966
  • Sold for non-transportation use to John E. Marsh, 15 December 1971, converted to a private yacht, name unknown
  • Sold, in 1971, owner unknown, renamed MV Marsha Lynn
  • Sold in 1979, TransAlaska Fisheries Corp (a subsidiary of 13th Regional Corporation), renamed MV Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea, and converted into a fish processor.
  • Final Disposition, destroyed by fire 20 October 1982 while undergoing repairs in Port Gardner (Everett, WA). and burned for two days, rolling over and sinking at 10:14am 22 October 1982 in 240 ft of water.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement 35
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity non refrigerated 177,515 Cu ft., 3,945 DWT
    Armament none
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg TSM6 Diesel engine
    two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248)
    Sgt George Peterson 38k
    Namesake

    Staff Sergeant George Peterson, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., was killed in action while serving as an acting platoon sergeant with Company K, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division near Eisern, Germany. On 30 March 1945, his company encountered intense small arms, machine gun, and mortar fire from an enemy battalion; and his platoon was ordered to flank the enemy positions while other units attacked from the front. Soon after moving out, Sergeant Peterson was severely wounded in the legs by mortar shell shrapnel, but he refused to turn back and continued to lead the platoon forward.
    Enemy machine guns then opened up on the unit. Sergeant Peterson crawled toward the guns and after working his way to a shallow draw, raised himself up and tossed a hand grenade into the nearest enemy position. He then became sole target of the second enemy machine gun; but, calmly and deliberately, he remained where he was and threw another grenade into that position. Both guns were silenced; and he continued on, becoming the target of an enemy rifleman who wounded him in the arm.
    Despite his wounds, Sergeant Peterson pressed forward for another 20 yards. Then, a third enemy machine gun took him under fire. He raised himself to his knees and fired a grenade from his rifle. The gun was silenced. After securing his objective, Sergeant Peterson submitted to medical aid. As he was being treated, however, a mortar burst seriously wounded one of his outpost men. Sergeant Peterson pulled himself from the aid man and began to crawl to the assistance of the wounded man. Just before he reached the man, Sergeant Peterson was struck and killed by an enemy bullet. For his actions, which enabled his company to advance with minimum casualties, Sergeant Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
    U.S. Army Photo    		 Bill Gonyo
    Sgt George Peterson 124k USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248) underway, date and location unknown. Carl R Friberg Jr
    Commercial Service
    Sgt George Peterson 40k MVAl-Ind-Esk-A-Sea on fire, 20 October 1982, off Port Gardner, Puget Sound, WA. Photo courtesy JWS Marine
    USNS Sgt. George Peterson (T-AK-248)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 May 2016