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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116)
ex
 USAT Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley (1947 - 1950)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Hotel - Delta
 NQHD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Nation Defense Service Medal
Sargent Jonah E. Kelly Class Coastal Transport:
  • Laid down, 29 January 1945, as MV Link Splice a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2489) at Southeastern Shipbuilding Corp., Savannah, GA.
  • Launched, 17 March 1945
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 28 August 1945 under contract to Moore-McCormack Line for operations
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 20 June 1946, and assigned to the Army Transportation Service (ATS)
  • Renamed and commissioned by the US Army Transportation Service USAT Sgt Jonah E. Kelley, 31 October 1947
  • Decommissioned by the US Army and turned over to the US Navy, 1 July 1950
  • Placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Sgt Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116)
  • Placed out of service, 24 November 1969
  • Transferred to MARAD, 22 December 1969, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 3 October 1972, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp., New York, N.Y.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement unknown
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity non refrigerated 177,515 Cu ft., 3,945 DWT
    Armament none
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    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. Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116)
    Kelly 102k
    Namesake

    Staff Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley, a West Virginian serving with Company E, 311th Infantry, 78th Infantry Division, was killed in action as his squad spearheaded furious house to house fighting in Kesternich, Germany, on 31 January 1945. On the 30th, he had led his squad through intense mortar and small arms fire in repeated assaults against barricaded German positions. Twice wounded--once in the back and once in the left hand-he had refused all but initial first aid; continued to lead his men forward; and, after clearing the way to one house by using hand grenades-pulling the pin with his teeth and tossing the explosive with his good arm-he had forced snipers to vacate a second house with his impaired, but still accurate, rifle fire. That night, he had sought medical attention; but, with dawn on the 31st, he had rejoined his squad as it continued its advance through the town. Twice that morning, he had located and silenced enemy positions. In dealing with the second, a machine gun in a heavily protected house, he ordered his squad to remain low; then dashed into the open and attacked the position. Hit several times, he fell to his knees 25 yards short of his objective; but, summoning extra strength, he emptied his rifle into the enemy position and silenced it before he died. For his courage, leadership, and sacrifice, Sgt. Kelley was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Kelly 60k USNS Sgt Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116) underway in New York harbor in 1960 © Richard Leonhardt
    Kelly 56k USNS Sgt Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116) underway, date and location unknown. Bill Valashnas,
    Radio Officer, 6 June to 15 July 1954
    Kelly 272k USNS Sgt Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116) anchored off Easter Island in December 1966.
    Photo courtesy Dick Wilhelm.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley (T-APC-116)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 30 August 2013