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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

ARG-17 Hooper Island

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Foxtrot - Papa
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 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. E. B. Guernsey in command
  • 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 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.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • Transferred MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1970
  • Hooper Island received two battle stars for Korean War Service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,159 t.(lt) 8,700 t.(fl)
    Length 442'
    Beam 57'
    Draft 23'
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 574
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    one reciprocating steam engine
    single propeller,
    design shaft horsepower 1,950hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By/Source
    Hooper Island 84k 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 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 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 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 93k 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 Hooper Island (ARG-17) underway in San Francisco, Bay, 12 July 1957. Donald Brouillard
    Hooper Island 71k Ellison Cashville Huckabee's Certificate from the Domain of the Golden Dragon. Lannis E. Huckabee COL(ret) USA for his father Ellison Cashville Huckabee ME2/c USS Hooper Island
    View the Hooper Island (ARG-17) ship's newspaper "The Whooper"
    View the Hooper Island (ARG-17)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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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 8 December 2006