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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Genesee (AOG-8)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Bravo - Juliet
 NCBJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (28 April 1968) - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (1)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6)
Sixth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Personnel Awards

Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Steven C. Friedman SK2), Purple Heart (1-KIA Arthur Ball SFM3, 22 April 1968)

USS Genesee (AOG-8) was transferred to Chile, renamed Beagle
Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker:
  • Laid down, date unknown, at Cargill Inc., Savage, MN.
  • Launched, 23 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS Genesee (AOG-8), 27 May 1944, LT. Charles. R. Heath USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Genesee was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 20 May to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Genesee was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 to 14 December 1945 
    26 January to 17 December 194726 January to 17 December 1947

  • Decommissioned, 16 December 1949, at Mare Island Navy Yard
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 28 July 1950
  • During the Korean War USS Genesee participated in the following campaign:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Second Korean Winter Campaign
    25 February to 1 March 1952
    1, 7 to 8 and 15 to 16 April 1952

  • During the Vietnam War USS Genesee participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    22 May to 13 June 1965
    22 June to 3 July 1965     		Vietnam Counteroffensive-Phase II
    1 to 12 July 1966, 26 August to 25 October 1966
    Vietnam Defense
    4 July to 24 September 1965     		Vietnam Counteroffensive-Phase IV
    31 March to 30 June 1968
    Vietnam Counteroffensive
    3 June to 30 June 1966     		Vietnam Counteroffensive-Phase IV
    1 July to 6 July 1968, 8 August to 16 October 1968

  • Decommissioned, 5 July 1972, and loaned to Chile
  • Transferred to Chile under terms of the Security Assistance Program, 9 November 1987, renamed Beagle
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, 25 June 1992
  • USS Genesee earned one battle star for World War II service, one battle star for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Decommissioned by the Chilean Navy in January 1992
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,850 t.(lt) 4,335 t.(lim)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 48' 6"
    Draft 15' 8"
    Speed 14 kts. (trial speed)
    Complement
    9 officers
    118 enlisted
    Largest boom capacity 3 tons
    Armament
    four 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    Oil 7,975 Bbls.
    Gasoline 410,500 Gals.
    Ship's service generators
    two 225Kw 240V D.C.
    one 10Kw 240V D.C.
    Fuel Capacities 2,240 Bbls. diesel
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 16-278A diesel engines
    single Fairbanks Morse main reduction gear
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 225Kw 120V/240V D.C.
     one Diesel-drive 10Kw 240V D.C.
    two propellers, 3,300shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Genesee
    09200818    		 91k
    Namesake
    Genesee, A river tributary of Lake Ontario flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York in the United States. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester
    High Falls of the Genesee River, Rochester, New York. Photo by Ken Gallager, Sept. 27, 2005    		 Tommy Trampp
    Genesee 95k Launching of Genesee (AOG-8), 23 September 1943, at Cargill Inc., Savage, MN.
    Photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.    		 Robert Hurst
    Genesee 405k USS Genesee (AOG-8) in Mississippi River Lock No. 15 at Rock Island, IL. in tow of Federal Barge Lines Towboat James W. Good, 19 April 1944. She is painted in camouflage scheme 32/2D. John Fitzgerald, Archivist, USACE, Rock Island District.
    Genesee 81k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown. She is painted in camouflage scheme 32/2D. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan.
    Genesee 137k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, overhead view, date and location unknown. She is painted in camouflage scheme 32/2D. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Genesee 106k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown. She wears camouflage scheme 32/2D. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Genesee 168k An aerial view of USS Genesee (AOG-8) at sea, 4 June 1944, wearing camouflage 32/3D. Photo taken by blimp squadron ZP-22.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-271264 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives     		Mike Green
    Genesee 75k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown. Genesee wears camouflage scheme 32/2D. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Genesee 191k USS Genesee (AOG-8) decommissioning at US Naval Shipyard Mare Island , Vallejo, CA., 16 December 1949. Left to right; LT. R. F. Hopkins, Commanding Officer; CAPT. B. E. Bacon, Jr., Commander, Mare Island Groups, Pacific Reserve Fleet and CDR M. K. Clementson, Commanding Officer Sub Group Two, Pacific Reserve Fleet. Darryl Baker
    Genesee
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photos No. AOG 8 66X1-7-50    		 501k Crew members clean the forward and after 3"/50 gun mounts aboard USS Genesee (AOG-8) on 13 July 1950 in preparation for the ship's recommissioning at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 28 July 1950.
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photos No.'s AOG 8 66X1-7-50 and AOG 8 66X2-7-50, US Navy photos now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.    		 Darryl Baker
    Genesee
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum photos No. AOG 8 66X2-7-50    		 294k
    Genesee 144k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Genesee 143k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Genesee 77k Pearl Harbor, HI, 11 April 1969, in background USS Genesee (AOG-8),
    foreground, USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22), FTM2 Nelson,
    second from left, far right GMMC Northcut    		 © Richard Leonhardt
    Genesee 109k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Genesee 94k USS Genesee (AOG-8) under way in 1965, location unknown.
    US Navy photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Robert Hurst
    Genesee 86k USS Genesee (AOG-8) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    Genesee
    09200819    		 91k
    Aerial view of USS Genesee (AOG-8) underway, date and location unknown.
    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS Genesee (AOG-8)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01 LT. Heath, Charles Richard, USNR 27 May 1944 - 31 December 1945
    02 LT. Halbert, Damon Howard, USN 31 December 1945 - 23 April 1947
    03 LT. Simms, Ernest Edgar, USN 23 April 1947 - September 1948
    04 LT. Hopkins, Robert Frederick Willard, USN September 1948 - 14 December 1949
     Decommissioned14 December 1949 - 28 July 1950
    05 LT. Mann Philip Leland, USN ? - 12 May 1956
    06 LT. Mumford, Homer Ellis, USN 12 May 1956 - 17 July 1058
    07 LT. Chertavian, Armen, USN (USNA 1951)17 July 1958 - 12 July 1960
    08 LT. Burt, Thomas Evan, USN (USNA 1953)12 July 1960 - 1 December 1961
    09 LTjg. Hill, Richard Earl, USNR (acting)1 December 1961- 6 January 1962
    10 LT. Hoye II, James Mitchell, USN (temporary)6 January 1962 - 20 January 1962
    11 LT. Hill, Richard Earl, USNR20 January 1962 - 1 February 1962
    12 LT. Burt, Thomas Evan USN (USNA 1953)1 February 1962 - 11 April 1963
    13 LT./LCDR. Higgins, Leo Alton, USN11 April 1963 - 15 July 1965
    14 LT./LCDR. Gurke, Donald Lee, USN15 July 1965 - 9 June 1967
    15 LT. Pendelton, Alan Ray, USN9 June 1967 - 14 August 1969
    16 LT. Osborne, Robert Drake, USN14 August 1969 - 15 September 1970
    17 LT. Fricke Jr., Harold Jean, USN15 September 1970 - 5 July 1972
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Fleet Tankers Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Genesee's Vietnam history
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 7 July 2023