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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

ARS-25 Safeguard

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons






Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Citation - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Korea)
Fifth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1- Entewaktek Cleanup, 1-Boat People) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (3)
Sixth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Escape Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down, 5 June 1943, at Basalt Rock Co. Inc., Napa, CA.
  • Launched, 20 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS Safeguard (ARS-25), 30 September 1944, LT. J. F. Simmons in command
  • During World War II Safeguard (ARS-25) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
    Okinawa Gunto operations
    (a) Invasion and occupation of Okinawa Gunto
  • Decommissioned, 12 December 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 13 February 1952
  • During the Korean War Safeguard (ARS-25) participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    22 September to 5 October 1952
    11 to 26 October 1952     		Third Korean Winter
    30 December 1952 to 17 January 1953
    21 January to 4 February 1953
    18 to 22 February 1953
    24 February to 14 March 1953
    28 March to 29 April 1953

  • During the Vietnam War Safeguard (ARS-25) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    13 October to 5 November 1965
    6 to 24 December 1965     		Vietnam Winter-Sprint 1970
    3 February to 18 March 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    25 to 30 December1965
    1 January 1966
    29 January to 13 February 1966     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    9 to 23 May 1970
    21 to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    4 to 5 November 1967
    29 November to 28 December 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 to 6 July 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    10 to 24 October 1968     		Consolidation I
    26 July to 15 August 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    25 to 29 November 1968
    7 to 12 December1968
    25 December 1968 to 3 January 1969
    18 to 25 January 1969
    30-January to 18 February 1969     		Vietnamese Ceasefire
    8 November to 26 December 1972
    12 January to 6 February 1973
    3 to 28 March 1973

  • Decommissioned (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 6 August 1987
  • Transferred under the Security Assistance Program, to Turkey, 18 August 1987
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Safeguard received one battle star for World War II service, two battle stars for Korean service, and ten campaign stars for Vietnam service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,650 t.
    Length 213' 6"
    Beam 39'
    Draft 14' 8"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 120
    Armament four 40mm guns
    Propulsion diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Takelma 38k Alpha Docks, Pearl Harbor Safeguard (ARS-25)
    inboard of Takelma (ATF-113), date unknown.    		 Courtesy Craig Rathammer and
    The National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Safeguard 33k Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and place unknown. Courtesy Joe Siesel and
    The National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Safeguard 45k Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tom Langford
    View the Safeguard (ARS-25)
    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
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Salvage Ship (ARS) Photo Index
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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 24 March 2006