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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Left Patch Contributed by Don McGrogan - Popular Patch, Right Patch by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Jason (AR-8)
ex
USS Jason (ARH-1) (1944 - 1957)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Victor - Uniform NCVU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Battle "E" Ribbon (6) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean)
Third Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Fourth Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)- National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fifth Row - Korean Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Persian Gulf) - Vietnam Service Medal (3)
Sixth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (Typhoon Pamela) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Seventh Row - Korean Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal
Eighth Row - Republic of Korean War Service Medal (retroactive) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Vulcan Class Repair Ship:

Laid down, 9 March 1942, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA. as a Heavy-hull Repair Ship

Launched, 3 April 1943

Commissioned USS Jason (ARH-1), 19 June 1944, CAPT. Alf O. R. Bergesen USN in command

During World War II USS Jason was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

During the Korean War USS Jason was forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan

Redesignated Repair Ship (AR-8), 9 September 1957

During the Vietnam War USS Jason (AR-8) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V Campaign 25 July to 16 August 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII Campaign 23 March to 13 April 1971
Vietnam Winter-Summer 1970 Campaign 27 December 1969 to 21 January 1970

Decommissioned, and Struck from the Naval Register, 24 June 1995

USS Jason earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA

Final Disposition, contract awarded, 9 November 2006, to Marine Metal Inc, Brownsville, TX. for scrapping, withdrawn from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, 8 January 2007, for scrapping at Brownsville, TX., dismantling officially completed by 14 January 2008

Specifications:
Displacement 9,430 t.(lt) 17,000 t.(fl)
Length 529' 4"
Beam 73' 4"
Draft 26' (max)
Speed 19.2 kts.
Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.

Complement

Officers 53

Enlisted 1,244

Armament

four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

Propulsion
two Los Angeles Shipbuilding turbines

four Babcock and Wilcox 3-drum boilers, 400psi 720°

double De Laval Main Reduction Gears

six turbo-drive 750Kw 450V A.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propeller shafts, 11,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Jason (ARH-1)
09250872	768k	*Namesake* Jason was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Medea. He was also the great-grandson of the messenger god Hermes, through his mother's side. Jason bringing Pelias the Golden Fleece; a winged victory prepares to crown him with a wreath. Side A from an Apulian red-figure calyx crater., circa 340 and circa 330 BC, Louvre Museum, Paris, France.	Tommy Trampp
	181k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US Navy photo	Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
	71k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1951.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	105k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) under way, circa 1945, Pacific Ocean. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US Navy photo.	Robert M. Cieri
	186k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) at anchor in the harbor at Inchon, South Korea. Jason** was at Inchon from 8 September 1945 to mid-February 1946. This post card was mailed prior to Christmas 1945.	Brian Miller
	107k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) with a carrier alongside; possibly at Ulithi between, 26 January to 7 February 1945. USS Hancock (CV-19) spent those days alongside Jason** while undergoing repairs after an accidental explosion on her flight deck on 21 January 1945. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	163k	United Nations ships assigned to support military operations in Korea pictured at anchor in Sasebo, Japan, during a break in the action. Pictured from front to back: the aircraft transport *HMS Unicorn* (I72), the light cruiser USS Juneau (CLAA-119), the aircraft carriers USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Leyte (CV-32), and the repair ships USS Hector (AR-7) and USS Jason (ARH-1). The photo was taken in late 1950 or early 1951, as this was the only time that Leyte** operated off Korea. US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1999.272.030	Robert Hurst
	155k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, 13 March 1945 with USS Randolph (CV-15) alongside. Note the damage to the after flight deck of Randolph** resulting from a kamikaze hit on 11 March 1945. Photographed from a *USS Miami* (CL-89) float plane. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US National Archives photo # 80-G-344531, a US Navy photo now in the collection of the US National Archives.	Scott Dyben
	365k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) at anchor, date and location unknown. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US Navy photo	David Buell
	190k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1) under way, date and location unknown. Note Jason** is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 4Ax. US Navy photo	David Buell
	173k	Bows on view of *USS Jason* (ARH-1)** moored, date and location unknown.	David Upton
	152k	*USS Jason* (ARH-1)** under way during the 1950s while still classified as the Navy's only heavy hull repair ship (ARH). Her appearance was essentially identical to that of her repair ship (AR) sisters. US Navy photo # USN 1106431 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
USS Jason (AR-8)
	83k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Robert M. Cieri
	115k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** off Point Loma departing San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	475k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** entering San Diego Bay, late 1950s. US Navy photo.	David Buell
	46k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** pierside, at Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown.	Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
	105k	*USS Jason* (AR-8) arriving at Yokohama, Japan circa June 1960. Jason** relieved USS Ajax as flagship of COMSERVRON 3 home ported at Sasebo Japan. *Ajax* and *Jason* met at Yokohama and COMSERVRON 3 moved into *Jason* for three months while *Ajax* completed a yard availability at Naval Shipyard Yokosuka.	Russell Cole ex ET2
	126k		Russell Cole ex ET2
	79k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored pierside in Japan, circa 1960s.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	314k	*USS Jason* (AR-8) at San Diego, CA., circa 1964, with four destroyers alongside (inboard to outboard): USS Cogswell (DD-651), USS Braine (DD-630), USS Hoel (DDG-13) and USS Stoddard (DD-566)**. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, September 1964.	Robert Hurst
09250813	118k	Five white 311-foot cutters of Coast Guard Squadron Three, assigned to support Operation MARKET TIME tied up alongside Navy repair ship *USS Jason* (AR-8) at Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines, 4 August 1967. From inboard to outboard: USCGC Half Moon (WHEC-378); USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380); USCGC Gresham (WHEC-387); USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381) and USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382)** U.S. Coast Guard Historian�s Office Coast Guard Photo Rel. No. 6201; August 4,1967 Photo by CDR Richard Morse, USCG, Commanding Officer *USCGC Barataria* (WHEC-381)**	Robert Hurst and Bob Canchola
	123k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway with crew manning the rails, date and location unknown. U.S. Navy photo 1967-68 edition of "Janes Fighting Ships"	Robert Hurst
	43k	*USS Jason* (AR-8) at anchor off Vung Tau, South Vietnam in June 1968 with USS Woodpecker (MSC-209)** alongside. U.S. Navy photo by PH3 R. L. Yager from the January 1969 edition of "All Hands" magazine	Steven Hessman
09250873	236k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** outbound to sea from the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
09250874	236k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway of San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
	30k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** in the channel departing Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown.	Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
	225k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored pierside, circa 1970s, location unknown.	Kathleen Capps
	66k	*USS Jason* (AR-8), with USS Beaufort (ATS-2)** alongside, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, circa 1981	Photo by Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret
	75k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** pierside San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
	79k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** off Point Loma departing San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Brian O'Connor, MM1 (SW/DV) USN Ret.
	59k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored at pier 16 Naval Station Long Beach CA., date unknown.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	54k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored pierside at San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	106k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
	1887k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway inbound to San Diego Bay, circa 1980s. This photo was taken after her 5"/38 guns were removed in 1977. Note that the mainmast is now a tall tripod. US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Wolfgang Hechler (gifts from CAPTs. Cleal (1992) and Haigis (1994) respectively
	1665k
09250875	234k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway inbound from sea in the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
09250876	187k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway, date and location unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
	143k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, following a WestPac deployment in either 1983 or 1985.	Photo - Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret. Caption - John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
	80k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, 1984.	Photo - Nick Napzok ex-EM3 USN Caption - John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07743	372k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** escorted by two tugs at Apra harbor, Guam, 5 August 1985. Note dry dock Machinist (AFDB-8) in the background of the top photo. Photograph by PH2 C. Dutkiewicz, USN. US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07743 and US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07746 US Navy photos by PH2 C. Dutkiewicz, now in the collections Defense Imagery.	Robert Hurst
US DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-90-07746	274k		Robert Hurst
	98k	On 10 February 1986, *USS Jason* (AR-8) was rammed by the fleet oiler USS Willamette (AO-180) about 62 miles southwest of Pearl Harbor, while steaming across and through a formation centered around Willamette, in an attempt to take up a position in the formation astern of Willamette. CPO Susano R. Valdez was killed and eight other Jason crew members were injured. The large vertical rupture from the deck to waterline on the port side of Jason necessitated her being towed back to Pearl Harbor by USS Brunswick (ATS-3)**. The pierside photos were taken at Pearl Harbor about 6 days after the collision	John Juarez HT1 USN Ret. USS Jason
	80k
	79k
	99k
	241k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** underway in the harbor at San Diego, California, in 1991. US Defense imagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-04-17186, a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense imagery.	Robert Hurst
	40k	*USS Jason* (AR-8)** at San Diego in October 1994	Dale C. Haskin
09250877	306k	Unmounted *USS Jason* (AR-8)** brass plaque casting.	Tommy Trampp
	32k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8)** in decommissioned status
MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet
	272k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8)** laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration photos	Ron Reeves
	315k		Ron Reeves
	178k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8)** moored at the former NAS Alameda prior to being towed, commencing 12 January 2007, to Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX. for scrapping	Photos by Mike McCullough
	154k
	162k
	52k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8) under tow in San Francisco Bay, 12 January 2007, by the tug Marine Commander. Jason** was enroute to the scrappers yard, Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX.	Photo by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG (Ret.)
	54k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8)** under tow in San Francisco Bay, 12 January 2007, while enroute to the scrappers yard, Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX.	Photo by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG (Ret.)
	69k	Ex-*USS Jason* (AR-8)** arriving at Marine Metals Inc., Brownsville, TX., 1 March 2007, for scrapping. Photo by Mike Martin, Brownsville, TX.	TJ Tropea

USS Jason Additional Ships Patches Contributed by Mike Smolinski

For more photos and information about USS Jason, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

USS Jason in World War II
Jason Memorabilia

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Bergesen, Alf Ole Ruh, USN (USNA 1920)	19 June 1944 - 2 October 1944
02	CAPT. Beck, Ehrwald Frank, USN (USNA 1922)	2 October 1944 - 12 December 1945
03	CAPT. Bennington, John Page, USN (USNA 1922)	12 December 1945 - January 1947
04	CAPT. Perdue, Charles Hiram, USN (USNA 1921B	January 1947 - February 1948
05	CAPT. Whiteside, William Smith, USN (USNA 1926)	February.1948 - February 1949
06	CAPT. Fowler, Joseph William, USN (USNA 1924) :RADM	February 1949 - July 1950
07	CAPT. Query Jr., James Victor, USN (USNA 1925).	July 1950 - August 1950
08	CAPT. Epps, William Bunyon, USN (USNA 1929)	August 1950 - July 1952
09	CAPT. Shepard, Seth Armstrong, USN (USNA 1926)	July 1952 - September 1953
10	CAPT. Fowler, Thompson Fletcher, USN (USNA 1925)	September 1953 - May 1955
11	CAPT. Phifer, Thomas Carson, USN (USNA 1931) :RADM	May 1955 - October 1956
12	CAPT. Abbot, Edward William, USN (USNA 1933)	October 1956 - 14 February 1957
13	CDR. Bilderback, Arthur Haskell, USN	14 February 1957 - 8 June 1957
14	CAPT. McIntire, Harrison Perry, USN (USNA 1935)	8 June 1957 - 16 August 1958
15	CAPT. Ramey, Ralph Lester, USN (USNA 1935)	16 August 1958 - 17 October 1959
16	CAPT. Meneke, Kenneth Elmer, USN (USNA 1933)	17 October 1959 - 2 November 1960
17	CAPT. Zimny, Stanley Michael, USN (USNA 1937)	2 November 1960 - 18 December 1961
18	CAPT. Williams Jr., John Bernard, USN (USNA 1939)	18 December 1961 - 30 November 1962
19	CAPT. Poage, Robert Bateman, USN (USNA 1942)	30 November 1962 - 21 July 1964
20	CAPT. Zigler, Frederick Wilhelm, USN	21 July 1964 - 31 August 1965
21	CAPT. Loveday, John Carrell. USN (USNA 1945)	31 August 1965 - 27 August 1966
22	CAPT. Metze, George Martin, USN	27 August 1966 - 23 March 1968
23	CAPT. Curtin, Lawrence Joseph, USN (USNA 1947)	23 March 1968 - 4 October 1969
24	CAPT. Mawhiney, William Thomas (Tom), USN	4 October 1969 - August 1971
25	CAPT. Gygax, Rex, USN (USNA 1947)	August 1971 - 18 December 1973
26	CAPT. Tolg Jr., Robert George, USN (USNA 1954)	18 December 1973 - October 1975
27	CAPT. Campbell, James Benjamin, USN	October 1975 - 11 September 1977
28	CAPT. Beaver, John Thomas, USN	11 September 1977 - 16 April 1979
29	CAPT. Johnson, Wendell Norman, USN :RADM	16 April 1979 - June 1982
30	CAPT. Martin Jr., Owen Carmin, USN	June 1982 - 13 July 1984
31	CAPT. Cook, Charles Irving, USN (USNA 1960)	13 July 1984 - March 1986
32	CAPT. Ansley, James Henry, USN	March 1986 - 17 April 1986
33	CAPT. Hogan III, James Joseph, USN (USNA 1963)	17 April 1986 - 4 May 1988
34	CAPT. Jantz, Michael William, USN	4 May 1988 - October 1989
35	CAPT. Grunwald, Gerald Max, USN	October 1989 - December 1989
36	CAPT. Tobin, Roy W., USN	December 1989 - 1 November 1991
37	CAPT. Cleal, Stephen Roger, USN	1 November 1991 - 23 October 1992
38	CAPT. Haigis, John, USN	23 October 1992 - January 1995
39	CDR. Swauger Jr., Ernest Vance, USN	January 1995 -24 June 1995


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 6 October 2023

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Jason (AR-8)ex USS Jason (ARH-1) (1944 - 1957)

USS Jason (AR-8)
ex
USS Jason (ARH-1) (1944 - 1957)