USS Ara (AK-136)
Encyclopedia
The SS Daniel Boone sailed from New York in January 1943 with a cargo of nearly 10 tons of high explosives. Welded and chained to the deck were two locomotives. It was Capt. Larz Neilson's first voyage as a master. He had been a ship's officer for American Hawaiian Steamship Co. since graduating from Massachusetts Nautical School in April 1930. The Daniel Boone was in a convoy which headed south along the U.S. eastern shoreline. It then turned easterly. When the convoy encountered rough seas, the chains holding the locomotives began to loosen. Capt. Neilson signaled that he would have to stop. The commodore, in a tanker, would not stop. Once the turnbuckles on the chains were tightened, the convoy was nowhere in sight. Capt. Neilson opened the orders for the meeting site for the following day. But at that time, there was no convoy. So he opened his final orders. Destination: Mostaganem, North Africa. He set various courses and arrived there safely.
After returning to the U.S., the Daniel Boone was then loaded in Philadelphia with supplies for Russia. Then in New York, a load of logs was placed on the deck. The destination was Khorramashar, Iran, on the Shat Al Arab, at the northern end of the Persian Gulf. The Daniel Boone sailed on May 5, 1943, heading south, passing through the Panama Canal, into the South Pacific. The course took it southerly of New Zealand and Australia, through the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean and into the Persian Gulf. Once the supplies for Russia and the logs for the Iranians were unloaded, the Daniel Boone then went to Bahrain, where Capt. Neilson bought 7000 barrels of oil, clean-burning Saudi Arabian light, prized among sailors, as it put up very little smoke.
The Bahrainis asked if he wanted any gasoline. No, replied Capt. Neilson. Barrels of gasoline on deck would be a fire hazard. Well, would you be willing to transport a few to South America for us? Capt. Neilson assented. When the loading was complete, there were 52 barrels of gasoline on deck.
The Boone left the Gulf, headed for the Cape of Good Hope. But Capt. Neilson soon received a change of orders. Go to where you were on June 27. That was Freemantle, Australia. And that was where he went. On arriving in Freemantle, he was met by people who were awaiting the gasoline. There evidently was some business, probably funny business, between the people in Bahrain and those in Freemantle.
As gratitude for the transport of the gasoline, the Australians gave Capt. Neilson three cases of Scotch. He placed them in a locked compartment near his cabin. He had the only key.
The Daniel Boone then sailed to San Francisco, arriving in late 1943. The ship passed through Customs. Everything was in order. Capt. Neilson was then informed that the ship was to be turned over to the U.S. Navy. Thank you for your service. The Scotch was still in the locked compartment, which was sealed by Customs. Capt. Neilson turned the key to that compartment over to the assistant harbormaster, Capt. Hazelwood, and told him what was in the compartment. He never learned what happened to those three cases of Scotch.
The ship then became the USS Ara.
USS Ara (AK-136) was a commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Ara
. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
SS Daniel Boone (MCE hull 69) was laid down on 17 July 1941 by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, California; launched on 14 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. K. Doolan; acquired by the Navy under a bare-boat charter on 3 December 1943; renamed Ara (AK-136); and commissioned on 4 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. W. B. Hudgins in command.
. Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor
, the ship reported to Service Squadron 8 for duty. On 4 March, Ara sailed in a convoy
bound for the Marshall Islands
and discharged her cargo at Majuro
and Kwajalein
Atolls. Ara left the Marshalls on 14 April; made a brief stop at Pearl Harbor on the 28th; and then the ship got underway for Port Hueneme, California
. After loading new cargo, Ara was back in Pearl Harbor on 29 May. The ship sailed on 7 June with Task Group
(TG) 51.6, bound for Eniwetok; anchored there on 18 June; and remained through 23 July.
to deliver U.S. Army personnel to that island. She remained offshore until 3 August and then disembarked troops and unloaded equipment. Ara got underway for Eniwetok on 20 August and arrived four days later. After a reprovisioning period, the transport sailed for Hawaii and moored at Pearl Harbor on 9 September.
. Five days later, Ara arrived at the atoll
. She sailed again on 8 December for the Marianas
to unload the remainder of her provisions at Guam and Saipan
. Ara called at Eniwetok on 23 December and then continued on to Tarawa. There, she refilled her cargo holds and sailed on 4 January 1945 for Makin Island
.
, and Saipan. From Saipan, Ara headed for Hawaii and reached Pearl Harbor on 20 March. Two days later, Ara sailed for San Pedro, California, where she arrived on 1 April for repairs. After successfully completing trials, Ara sailed on 6 May to Tacoma, Washington
, to load cargo and remained there until 23 May, when she began steaming independently for the Philippines
.
, Philippines, on 25 June. She then received orders to sail to New Zealand
and got underway on 6 July. Ara moored at Auckland
on 21 July and commenced loading supplies earmarked for U.S. Marines stationed on Saipan. She departed Auckland on 27 July and arrived at Saipan on 14 August. The next day, while she was still there, Japan capitulated on 15 August. Ara set a course for the west coast on the 21st, entered San Francisco Bay
on 9 September, and began voyage repairs.
, for Norfolk, Virginia
, and arrived there on 27 October.
in whose custody she resumed the name SS Daniel Boone. The name, Ara, was struck from the Navy List
on 5 December. SS Daniel Boone was listed in registers of American merchant vessels until the early 1970s until she was scrapped in 1972.
After returning to the U.S., the Daniel Boone was then loaded in Philadelphia with supplies for Russia. Then in New York, a load of logs was placed on the deck. The destination was Khorramashar, Iran, on the Shat Al Arab, at the northern end of the Persian Gulf. The Daniel Boone sailed on May 5, 1943, heading south, passing through the Panama Canal, into the South Pacific. The course took it southerly of New Zealand and Australia, through the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean and into the Persian Gulf. Once the supplies for Russia and the logs for the Iranians were unloaded, the Daniel Boone then went to Bahrain, where Capt. Neilson bought 7000 barrels of oil, clean-burning Saudi Arabian light, prized among sailors, as it put up very little smoke.
The Bahrainis asked if he wanted any gasoline. No, replied Capt. Neilson. Barrels of gasoline on deck would be a fire hazard. Well, would you be willing to transport a few to South America for us? Capt. Neilson assented. When the loading was complete, there were 52 barrels of gasoline on deck.
The Boone left the Gulf, headed for the Cape of Good Hope. But Capt. Neilson soon received a change of orders. Go to where you were on June 27. That was Freemantle, Australia. And that was where he went. On arriving in Freemantle, he was met by people who were awaiting the gasoline. There evidently was some business, probably funny business, between the people in Bahrain and those in Freemantle.
As gratitude for the transport of the gasoline, the Australians gave Capt. Neilson three cases of Scotch. He placed them in a locked compartment near his cabin. He had the only key.
The Daniel Boone then sailed to San Francisco, arriving in late 1943. The ship passed through Customs. Everything was in order. Capt. Neilson was then informed that the ship was to be turned over to the U.S. Navy. Thank you for your service. The Scotch was still in the locked compartment, which was sealed by Customs. Capt. Neilson turned the key to that compartment over to the assistant harbormaster, Capt. Hazelwood, and told him what was in the compartment. He never learned what happened to those three cases of Scotch.
The ship then became the USS Ara.
USS Ara (AK-136) was a commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Ara
Ara (constellation)
Ara is a southern constellation situated between Scorpius and Triangulum Australe. Its name is Latin for "altar". Ara was one of the 48 Greek constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical...
. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
SS Daniel Boone (MCE hull 69) was laid down on 17 July 1941 by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, California; launched on 14 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. K. Doolan; acquired by the Navy under a bare-boat charter on 3 December 1943; renamed Ara (AK-136); and commissioned on 4 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. W. B. Hudgins in command.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Ara sailed on 7 February for HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, the ship reported to Service Squadron 8 for duty. On 4 March, Ara sailed in a convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
bound for the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
and discharged her cargo at Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
and Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
Atolls. Ara left the Marshalls on 14 April; made a brief stop at Pearl Harbor on the 28th; and then the ship got underway for Port Hueneme, California
Port Hueneme, California
Port Hueneme is a small beach city in Ventura County, California surrounded by the city of Oxnard and the Pacific Ocean. The name derives from the Spanish spelling of the Chumash wene me, meaning "Resting Place". The area was discovered by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in the mid 16th century...
. After loading new cargo, Ara was back in Pearl Harbor on 29 May. The ship sailed on 7 June with Task Group
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
(TG) 51.6, bound for Eniwetok; anchored there on 18 June; and remained through 23 July.
Delivering troops and supplies to the South Pacific
On 23 July, Ara was ordered to proceed to GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
to deliver U.S. Army personnel to that island. She remained offshore until 3 August and then disembarked troops and unloaded equipment. Ara got underway for Eniwetok on 20 August and arrived four days later. After a reprovisioning period, the transport sailed for Hawaii and moored at Pearl Harbor on 9 September.
Supplying Guam and Saipan
There, she loaded cargo destined for Roi Namur and Majuro and sailed on 19 September for the Marshalls. From 4 October to 20 November, supplies were discharged and taken on board at Majuro and Kwajalein. On 25 November, the ship headed for UlithiUlithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
. Five days later, Ara arrived at the atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
. She sailed again on 8 December for the Marianas
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
to unload the remainder of her provisions at Guam and Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Ara called at Eniwetok on 23 December and then continued on to Tarawa. There, she refilled her cargo holds and sailed on 4 January 1945 for Makin Island
Makin (islands)
Makin is the name of a chain of islands located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati, specifically in the Gilbert Islands.-Geography:...
.
Shuttling cargo between island bases
During the first two months of 1945, Ara repeated her cargo shuttle services. Her ports of call included Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Ulithi, Guam, TinianTinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
, and Saipan. From Saipan, Ara headed for Hawaii and reached Pearl Harbor on 20 March. Two days later, Ara sailed for San Pedro, California, where she arrived on 1 April for repairs. After successfully completing trials, Ara sailed on 6 May to Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, to load cargo and remained there until 23 May, when she began steaming independently for the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Supplying troops in the Philippines and Saipan
Ara began discharging cargo at SamarSamar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Philippines, on 25 June. She then received orders to sail to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and got underway on 6 July. Ara moored at Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
on 21 July and commenced loading supplies earmarked for U.S. Marines stationed on Saipan. She departed Auckland on 27 July and arrived at Saipan on 14 August. The next day, while she was still there, Japan capitulated on 15 August. Ara set a course for the west coast on the 21st, entered San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
on 9 September, and began voyage repairs.
End-of-war activity
The transport left the west coast on 6 October, bound, via the Panama CanalPanama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, for Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, and arrived there on 27 October.
Post-war decommissioning
She was decommissioned on 26 November and turned over to the War Shipping AdministrationWar Shipping Administration
The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....
in whose custody she resumed the name SS Daniel Boone. The name, Ara, was struck from the Navy List
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 5 December. SS Daniel Boone was listed in registers of American merchant vessels until the early 1970s until she was scrapped in 1972.
Military awards and honors
Ara won one battle star for her World War II service. Her crew was eligible for the following medals and campaign ribbons:- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippines Liberation Medal