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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Left Patch Contributed by Don McGrogan - Popular Patch, Right Patch by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Jason (AR-8)
ex
USS Jason (ARH-1) (1944 - 1957)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Victor - Uniform
NCVU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons








Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Battle "E" Ribbon (6) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean)
Third Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Fourth Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)- National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fifth Row - Korean Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Persian Gulf) - Vietnam Service Medal (3)
Sixth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (Typhoon Pamela) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Seventh Row - Korean Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal
Eighth Row - Republic of Korean War Service Medal (retroactive) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)


Vulcan Class Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 9 March 1942, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA. as a Heavy-hull Repair Ship
  • Launched, 3 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Jason (ARH-1), 19 June 1944, CAPT. Alf O. R. Bergesen USN in command
  • During World War II USS Jason was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • During the Korean War USS Jason was forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan
  • Redesignated Repair Ship (AR-8), 9 September 1957
  • During the Vietnam War USS Jason (AR-8) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V Campaign
    25 July to 16 August 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII Campaign
    23 March to 13 April 1971
    Vietnam Winter-Summer 1970 Campaign
    27 December 1969 to 21 January 1970
     

  • Decommissioned, and Struck from the Naval Register, 24 June 1995
  • USS Jason earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA
  • Final Disposition, contract awarded, 9 November 2006, to Marine Metal Inc, Brownsville, TX. for scrapping, withdrawn from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, 8 January 2007, for scrapping at Brownsville, TX., dismantling officially completed by 14 January 2008
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,430 t.(lt) 17,000 t.(fl)
    Length 529' 4"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 26' (max)
    Speed 19.2 kts.
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Complement
    Officers 53
    Enlisted 1,244
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    two Los Angeles Shipbuilding turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox 3-drum boilers, 400psi 720°
    double De Laval Main Reduction Gears
    six turbo-drive 750Kw 450V A.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propeller shafts, 11,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    USS Jason (ARH-1)
    Jason
    09250872
    768k
    Namesake
    Jason was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Medea. He was also the great-grandson of the messenger god Hermes, through his mother's side.
    Jason bringing Pelias the Golden Fleece; a winged victory prepares to crown him with a wreath. Side A from an Apulian red-figure calyx crater., circa 340 and circa 330 BC, Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
    Tommy Trampp
    Jason 181k USS Jason (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US Navy photo
    Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Jason 71k USS Jason (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1951.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Jason 105k USS Jason (ARH-1) under way, circa 1945, Pacific Ocean.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Jason 186k USS Jason (ARH-1) at anchor in the harbor at Inchon, South Korea. Jason was at Inchon from 8 September 1945 to mid-February 1946. This post card was mailed prior to Christmas 1945. Brian Miller
    Jason 107k USS Jason (ARH-1) with a carrier alongside; possibly at Ulithi between, 26 January to 7 February 1945. USS Hancock (CV-19) spent those days alongside Jason while undergoing repairs after an accidental explosion on her flight deck on 21 January 1945.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Juneau 163k United Nations ships assigned to support military operations in Korea pictured at anchor in Sasebo, Japan, during a break in the action. Pictured from front to back: the aircraft transport HMS Unicorn (I72), the light cruiser USS Juneau (CLAA-119), the aircraft carriers USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Leyte (CV-32), and the repair ships USS Hector (AR-7) and USS Jason (ARH-1). The photo was taken in late 1950 or early 1951, as this was the only time that Leyte operated off Korea.
    US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1999.272.030
    Robert Hurst
    CV-15 Randolph 155k USS Jason (ARH-1) at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945 with USS Randolph (CV-15) alongside. Note the damage to the after flight deck of Randolph resulting from a kamikaze hit on 11 March 1945. Photographed from a USS Miami (CL-89) float plane.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-344531, a US Navy photo now in the collection of the US National Archives.
    Scott Dyben
    Jason 365k USS Jason (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US Navy photo
    David Buell
    Jason 190k USS Jason (ARH-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    Note Jason is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax.
    US Navy photo
    David Buell
    Jason 173k Bows on view of USS Jason (ARH-1) moored, date and location unknown. David Upton
    Jason 152k USS Jason (ARH-1) under way during the 1950s while still classified as the Navy's only heavy hull repair ship (ARH). Her appearance was essentially identical to that of her repair ship (AR) sisters.
    US Navy photo # USN 1106431 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Robert Hurst
    USS Jason (AR-8)
    Jason 83k USS Jason (AR-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Jason 115k USS Jason (AR-8) off Point Loma departing San Diego, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Jason 475k USS Jason (AR-8) entering San Diego Bay, late 1950s.
    US Navy photo.
    David Buell
    Jason 46k USS Jason (AR-8) pierside, at Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown. Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
    Jason 105k USS Jason (AR-8) arriving at Yokohama, Japan circa June 1960. Jason relieved USS Ajax as flagship of COMSERVRON 3 home ported at Sasebo Japan. Ajax and Jason met at Yokohama and COMSERVRON 3 moved into Jason for three months while Ajax completed a yard availability at Naval Shipyard Yokosuka. Russell Cole ex ET2
    Jason 126k
    Jason 79k USS Jason (AR-8) moored pierside in Japan, circa 1960s. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Jason 314k USS Jason (AR-8) at San Diego, CA., circa 1964, with four destroyers alongside (inboard to outboard):
    USS Cogswell (DD-651),
    USS Braine (DD-630),
    USS Hoel (DDG-13) and
    USS Stoddard (DD-566). US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, September 1964.
    Robert Hurst
    Jason
    09250813
    118k Five white 311-foot cutters of Coast Guard Squadron Three, assigned to support Operation MARKET TIME tied up alongside Navy repair ship USS Jason (AR-8) at Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines, 4 August 1967. From inboard to outboard:
    USCGC Half Moon (WHEC-378);
    USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380);
    USCGC Gresham (WHEC-387);
    USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381) and
    USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382)
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6201; August 4,1967
    Photo by CDR Richard Morse, USCG, Commanding Officer USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381)
    Robert Hurst and
    Bob Canchola
    Jason 123k USS Jason (AR-8) underway with crew manning the rails, date and location unknown.
    U.S. Navy photo 1967-68 edition of "Janes Fighting Ships"
    Robert Hurst
    Jason 43k USS Jason (AR-8) at anchor off Vung Tau, South Vietnam in June 1968 with USS Woodpecker (MSC-209) alongside.
    U.S. Navy photo by PH3 R. L. Yager from the January 1969 edition of "All Hands" magazine
    Steven Hessman
    Jason
    09250873
    236k USS Jason (AR-8) outbound to sea from the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Jason
    09250874
    236k USS Jason (AR-8) underway of San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Jason 30k USS Jason (AR-8) in the channel departing Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown. Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
    Jason 225k USS Jason (AR-8) moored pierside, circa 1970s, location unknown. Kathleen Capps
    Beaufort 66k USS Jason (AR-8), with USS Beaufort (ATS-2) alongside, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, circa 1981 Photo by Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret
    Jason 75k USS Jason (AR-8) pierside San Diego, CA., date unknown. Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
    Jason 79k USS Jason (AR-8) off Point Loma departing San Diego, CA., date unknown. Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
    Jason 59k USS Jason (AR-8) moored at pier 16 Naval Station Long Beach CA., date unknown. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Jason 54k USS Jason (AR-8) moored pierside at San Diego, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Jason 106k USS Jason (AR-8) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
    Jason 1887k USS Jason (AR-8) underway inbound to San Diego Bay, circa 1980s. This photo was taken after her 5"/38 guns were removed in 1977. Note that the mainmast is now a tall tripod.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wolfgang Hechler (gifts from CAPTs. Cleal (1992) and Haigis (1994) respectively
    Jason 1665k
    Jason
    09250875
    234k USS Jason (AR-8) underway inbound from sea in the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Jason
    09250876
    187k USS Jason (AR-8) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©George Barber
    Nicholas Tiberio
    Jason 143k USS Jason (AR-8) moored pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, following a WestPac deployment in either 1983 or 1985. Photo - Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Caption - John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
    Jason 80k USS Jason (AR-8) moored pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, 1984. Photo - Nick Napzok ex-EM3 USN
    Caption - John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
    Jason
    US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07743
    372k USS Jason (AR-8) escorted by two tugs at Apra harbor, Guam, 5 August 1985. Note dry dock Machinist (AFDB-8) in the background of the top photo.
    Photograph by PH2 C. Dutkiewicz, USN. US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07743 and US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07746 US Navy photos by PH2 C. Dutkiewicz, now in the collections Defense Imagery.
    Robert Hurst
    Jason
    US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07746
    274k
    Jason 98k On 10 February 1986, USS Jason (AR-8) was rammed by the fleet oiler USS Willamette (AO-180) about 62 miles southwest of Pearl Harbor, while steaming across and through a formation centered around Willamette, in an attempt to take up a position in the formation astern of Willamette. CPO Susano R. Valdez was killed and eight other Jason crew members were injured. The large vertical rupture from the deck to waterline on the port side of Jason necessitated her being towed back to Pearl Harbor by USS Brunswick (ATS-3). The pierside photos were taken at Pearl Harbor about 6 days after the collision John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
    Jason 80k
    Jason 79k
    Jason 99k
    Jason 241k USS Jason (AR-8) underway in the harbor at San Diego, California, in 1991.
    US Defense imagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-04-17186, a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense imagery.
    Robert Hurst
    Jason 40k USS Jason (AR-8) at San Diego in October 1994 Dale C. Haskin
    Jason 32k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) in decommissioned status  
    MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet
    Jason 272k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., date unknown.
    US Maritime Administration photos
    Ron Reeves
    Jason 315k
    Jason 178k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) moored at the former NAS Alameda prior to being towed, commencing 12 January 2007, to Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX. for scrapping Photos by Mike McCullough
    Jason 154k
    Jason 162k
    Jason 52k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) under tow in San Francisco Bay, 12 January 2007, by the tug Marine Commander. Jason was enroute to the scrappers yard, Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX. Photo by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG (Ret.)
    Jason 54k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) under tow in San Francisco Bay, 12 January 2007, while enroute to the scrappers yard, Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX. Photo by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG (Ret.)
    Jason 69k Ex-USS Jason (AR-8) arriving at Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX., 1 March 2007, for scrapping.
    Photo by Mike Martin, Brownsville, TX.
    TJ Tropea

    USS Jason Additional Ships Patches
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski

    Jason Jason


    For more photos and information about USS Jason, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Jason in World War II
  • Jason Memorabilia

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Bergesen, Alf Ole Ruh, USN (USNA 1920)19 June 1944 - 2 October 1944
    02CAPT. Beck, Ehrwald Frank, USN (USNA 1922)2 October 1944 - 12 December 1945
    03CAPT. Bennington, John Page, USN (USNA 1922)12 December 1945 - January 1947
    04CAPT. Perdue, Charles Hiram, USN (USNA 1921BJanuary 1947 - February 1948
    05CAPT. Whiteside, William Smith, USN (USNA 1926)February.1948 - February 1949
    06CAPT. Fowler, Joseph William, USN (USNA 1924) :RADMFebruary 1949 - July 1950
    07CAPT. Query Jr., James Victor, USN (USNA 1925).July 1950 - August 1950
    08CAPT. Epps, William Bunyon, USN (USNA 1929)August 1950 - July 1952
    09CAPT. Shepard, Seth Armstrong, USN (USNA 1926)July 1952 - September 1953
    10CAPT. Fowler, Thompson Fletcher, USN (USNA 1925)September 1953 - May 1955
    11CAPT. Phifer, Thomas Carson, USN (USNA 1931) :RADMMay 1955 - October 1956
    12CAPT. Abbot, Edward William, USN (USNA 1933)October 1956 - February 1957
    13CDR. Bilderback, Arthur Haskell, USNFebruary 1957 - June 1957
    14CAPT. McIntire, Harrison Perry, USN (USNA 1935)June 1957 - August 1958
    15CAPT. Ramey, Ralph Lester, USN (USNA 1935)August 1958 - 17 October 1959
    16CAPT. Meneke, Kenneth Elmer, USN (USNA 1933)17 October 1959 - November 1960
    17CAPT. Zimny, Stanley Michael, USN (USNA 1937)November 1960 - December 1961
    18CAPT. Williams Jr., John Bernard, USN (USNA 1939)December 1961 - 30 November 1962
    19CAPT. Poage, Robert Bateman, USN (USNA 1942)30 November 1962 - 21 July 1964
    20CAPT. Ziegler, Frederick Wilhelm, USN 21 July 1964 - August 1965
    21CAPT. Loveday, John Carrell. USN (USNA 1945)August 1965 - 27 August 1966
    22CAPT. Metze, George Martin, USN 27 August 1966 - 23 March 1968
    23CAPT. Curtin, Lawrence Joseph, USN (USNA 1947)23 March 1968 - 4 October 1969
    24CAPT. Mawhiney, William Thomas (Tom), USN4 October 1969 - August 1971
    25CAPT. Gygax, Rex, USN (USNA 1947)August 1971 - December 1973
    26CAPT. Tolg Jr., Robert George, USN (USNA 1954)December 1973 - October 1975
    27CAPT. Campbell, James Benjamin, USNOctober 1975 - 11 September 1977
    28CAPT. Beaver, John Thomas, USN 11 September 1977 - 16 April 1979
    29CAPT. Johnson, Wendell Norman, USN :RADM16 April 1979 - June 1982
    30CAPT. Martin Jr., Owen Carmin, USNJune 1982 - 13 July 1984
    31CAPT. Cook, Charles Irving, USN (USNA 1960)13 July 1984 - March 1986
    32CAPT. Ansley, James Henry, USNMarch 1986 - 17 April 1986
    33CAPT. Hogan III, James Joseph, USN (USNA 1963)17 April 1986 - 4 May 1988
    34CAPT. Jantz, Michael William, USN4 May 1988 - October 1989
    35CAPT. Grunwald, Gerald Max, USN October 1989 - December 1989
    36CAPT. Tobin, Roy W., USNDecember 1989 - 1 November 1991
    37CAPT. Cleal, Stephen Roger, USN1 November 1991 - 23 October 1992
    38CAPT. Haigis, John, USN23 October 1992 - January 1995
    39CDR. Swauger Jr., Ernest Vance, USNJanuary 1995 -24 June 1995
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    Last Updated 8 July 2022