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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-23 Neosho

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 7 December 1941, 7 May 1942) - American Defense Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Personal Awards

Purple Hearts (3-WIA, Pearl Harbor)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 22 June 1938, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull, under a Maritime Commission contract, at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 24 April 1939
  • Commissioned USS Neosho (AO-23), 7 August 1939, CDR. E. A. Mullan in command
  • During World War II Neosho participated in the following actions:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 Coral Sea, 4 to 8 May 1942

  • Lost to enemy action at the Battle of the Coral Sea, fatally damaged by enemy air attack, 7 May 1942, sunk by gunfire from Henley (DD-391), 11 May 1942
  • Neosho received two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,470 t.(lt) 24,830 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32' 4"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 304
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 146,000 barrels
    Propulsion, geared turbines twin screws. 30,400hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Neosho 40k Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, in the background, Neosho (AO-23) and in the foreground, California (BB-44)
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Neosho 84k Neosho (AO-23) just after commissioning, 7 August1939
    US Navy photo NH 63448 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center     		.
    Neosho 46k Neosho (AO-23) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Merrill
    Neosho 20k Neosho (AO-23) refueling Yorktown (CV-5), 1 May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Coral Sea.
    Note use of Yorktown's aircraft crane to support her end of the refueling rig.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-464653, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Neosho 23k a wave breaks over main deck, engulfing hose crew, as Neosho (AO-23) refuels Yorktown (CV-5) early in May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Coral Sea. US National Archives photo # 80-G-13106, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. US Naval Historical Center
    Neosho 20k Neosho (AO-23) refueling Yorktown (CV-5) in heavy seas shortly before the Battle of Coral Sea.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-16444, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval Historical Center
    View the Neosho (AO-23)
    DANFS history entry located at 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
    Pearl Harbor Action Report
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) 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 25 May 2007