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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

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 1946	3 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

Transferred MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 November 1970, Zidell Explorations Inc., Portland, OR.

USS Hooper Island received two battle stars for Korean War Service

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 Diesel 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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/Source
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
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
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
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
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
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.
92k	*USS Hooper Island* (ARG-17)** underway in San Francisco, Bay, 12 July 1957.	Donald Brouillard
122k	*USS Hooper Island* (ARB-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
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

USS Hooper Island (ARG-17)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Guernsey, Elmon Bishop	13 July 1945 - October 1945
02	CDR. Fortune Jr., Paul L. USNR	October 1945 -1947
	Decommissioned	24 January 1948 to 12 April 1952
04	CDR. Rile Jr., Frank Higgins	12 April 1952 - ?
	CDR. Labo, Howard Glenn	1955 - ?
	CDR. Mullins Jr., Fred Ferguson	1957 - 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
USS Hooper Island (ARG-17) ship's newspaper "The Whooper"

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 7 January 2012