USS Sitkin AE-17 Patch

THE USS SITKIN AE-17 USS GREAT SITKIN (AE-17) was built as a C2-S-AJ1 U.S. Maritime Commission design hull by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company at Wilmington, North Carolina in early 1945. When accepted by the U.S. she was converted to an ammunition ship at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina. She had a length of 459 feet, a beam of 63 feet, a speed of 16 knots, and a normal load displacement of 12,000 tons. In accordance with policy and tradition, the vessel was named "GREAT SITKIN" after a volcano in the Aleutian Islands and assigned the hull number AE-17. With appropriate ceremonies, GREAT SITKIN was commissioned as a U.S. Ammunition Ship on 11 August 1945, at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina. On 2 October 1945, she reported to Commander Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet for active duty. During the course of her 29 years of active service, Great Sitkin was awarded the following medals and ribbons: American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal with 3 campaign stars.