Jason (AR 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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JASON: READY, WILLING AND ABLE Civil Wir Monitor. ' Sangamon ' renamed JASON in 1869 Jason, the son of Acson in Greek Mythology, was a prince and the captain of a group of sailors from Argos, known as Argonauts Hear- ing the story that there was. in a distant land, a Ram with a fleece of gold of immense value hanging in a tree, Jason and his Argonauts set out on a long sea voyage that was beset with many perils, so that they might possess the prize known as the Golden Fleece. Like her namesake of old, USS JASON has had an equally bold, courageous and noteworthy history. The first ship in the United Slates Navy to be called JASON, was a Civil War monitor originally named Sangamon It was renamed 15 June IX(S9 The second JASON (ACI2) was launched 16 Nov 1912 by Maryland Steel Com- pany, and commissioned 26 June 191.1 with Captain A.M. Whitton in command. The ship served as a fueler and general cargo ship, be- coming known as the Christmas Ship after carrying Christmas gifts for the Mcditeranean Fleet and the people of Kuropc in I91.S She continued to operate in the Pacific Fleet as an Aircraft Tender until 1 9.12 w hen she returned to San Diego for decommissioning. The wcond JASON (ACI2) was launched 16 Nov 1912 and served as a fueler and general cargo ship She was heller known as ihc Chrisimas Ship 10

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N ' ■ I T - E T : A T E ■ ■ ■■ - s, -—■■ THE WORLD r t

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Launching the present USS JASON. April 3. 1943 at the Loi Angeies Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. The present USS JASON (AR8) was launched 3 April 1943 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, and was commissioned on 19 June 1944 with Captain A.O.R. Bergesen in command. She was built to serve as a hull repair ship, the first and only repair ship ever designed for this purpose. World War II was raging and JASON took her place on the line almost immediately sailing first to Pearl Harbor and then proceeding to Purvis Bay in the Solomon Islands to begin operations as a member of Service Squadron 10. From Purvis, JASON moved to Ulithi for seven months and then to Leyte for the duration of the war. During this period, JASON worked around the clock restoring ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The heavy work load, coupled with the need to spend long hours at General Quarters, severely taxed those who served aboard her, but JASON ' s performance together with the other units of Squadron 10 prompted Admiral Halsey to commend the Squadron Commander for a job well done. In Ulithi, three separate air attacks were survived. JASON repaired damages sustained by the USS MAZAWA, a fleet ammunition ship, and by the USS RANDOLPH, a heavy aircraft carrier. JASON supplied needed bulkheads for the repair of a number of ships, including the USS LEXINGTON and the USS CABOT. While in Leyte JASON regunned the USS MOBILE and effected repairs to USS IDAHO, USS MISSISSIPPI, USS NT. OLYMPUS, and USS GUS W. DARNELL. 11