Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Hooper Island (ARG-17)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Foxtrot - Papa
 NKFP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 16 September 1944, as SS Bert McDowell, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2682) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 30 October 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Bethlehem Key Highway Plant, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Hooper Island (ARG-17), 13 July 1945, CDR. Elmon B. Guernsey in command
  • During World War II USS Hooper Island was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Hooper Island was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    5 November 1945 to 2 November 19463 November 1946 to 15 August 1947

  • Decommissioned, 24 January 1948 at Alameda, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 12 April 1952, CDR. Frank H. Rile in command
  • During the Korean War USS Hooper Island participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Third Korean Winter
    28 to 29 March 1953
    30 March to 1 April 1953
    14 to 15 April 1953     		Korean Summer-Fall 1953
    16 to 18 May 1953

  • Decommissioned, 15 July 1959, at San Diego, CA. and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 2 May 1960, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • USS Hooper Island earned two battle stars for Korean War Service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 November 1960, Zidell Explorations Inc., Portland, OR., (PD-X-886) removed from Suisun Bay, 5 November 1970
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,159 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(limiting)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 23'
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 30
    Enlisted 471
    Largest Boom Capacity 22 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    three 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity 20,690 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machine Corp., vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
    three turbo-drive 350Kw 450V A.C.
    two turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By/Source
    Hooper Island 84k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) at anchor at Sasebo, Japan, in 1945.
    Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2c USS Hooper Island    		 Lannis E. Huckabee COL(ret) USA for his father Ellison Cashville Huckabee ME2/c USS Hooper Island
    Hooper Island 104k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) Chaplain LT. O.A. Linger ChC USNR during services aboard ship, date and place unknown.
    Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2c USS Hooper Island    		 Lannis E. Huckabee COL(ret) USA for his father Ellison Cashville Huckabee ME2/c USS Hooper Island
    Hooper Island 71k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) Chaplain LT. O.A. Linger ChC USNR and crew members during an R&R break at Hoover Park, date unknown.
    Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2c USS Hooper Island    		 Lannis E. Huckabee COL(ret) USA for his father Ellison Cashville Huckabee ME2/c USS Hooper Island
    Hooper Island 71k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) band practice on the fantail, while underway bound for Guam, date unknown.
    Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2c USS Hooper Island    		 Lannis E. Huckabee COL(ret) USA for his father Ellison Cashville Huckabee ME2/c USS Hooper Island
    Hooper Island
    09291737    		 172k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, circa 1946. Note the world record longest Homeward Bound Pennant. Darryl Baker
    Hooper Island
    09291738    		 151k
    Hooper Island 47k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) at Sasebo, Japan, circa 1952. Caleb Culberson for his grandfather Fred Culberson MM1 USS Hooper Island 1952-1956.
    Hooper Island 93k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) at anchor at Cheju-do, South Korea, with SS San Mateo in the background and an unidentified escort aircraft carrier anchored astern of Hooper Island. Hooper Island was helping to salvage SS San Mateo, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, 17 November 1954.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Hooper Island 92k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) underway in San Francisco, Bay, 12 July 1957. Donald Brouillard
    Hector 122k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) in 1958 while at anchor with LSTs alongside in the harbor at San Diego, CA. Anchored astern of Hooper Island is USS Hector (AR-7). Photo taken from USS Ajax at pier 1 Naval Station San Diego in1958. Russell Cole ET2 USS Ajax & USS Luzon 1957-1961
    Hooper Island 83k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) underway, date and location unknown.
    A Ted Stone photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1958-59 Edition.    		 Robert Hurst
    Hooper Island 75k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Hooper Island
    092981736    		 91k USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) Chief Petty Officer, date and location unknown. Bob Kane
    USS Hooper Island (ARG-17)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Guernsey, Elmon Bishop, USN (USNA 1921-A) 13 July 1945 - 12 August 1946
    02CDR. Thompson, Albert Clifford USNR12 August 1946 - 24 January 1948
     Decommissioned24 January 1948 to 12 April 1952
    03CDR. Rile Jr., Frank Higgins, USN (USNA 1938)12 April 1952 - ?
    04CDR. Oliver Jr., James Alexander, USN (USNA 1941)1955 - 7 November 1956
    05CDR. Rubinow Jr., Sydney George, USN 7 November 1956 - 28 July 1958
    06CDR. Mullins Jr., Fred Ferguson (Moon), USN28 July 1958 - 15 July 1959
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) Memorabilia
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship (ARG) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 April 2023