History USS Repose (AH-16)

the 52-bed ward



uss repose on station during 1967 uss forrestal fire.

with bed capacity of 750 , complement of 564, repose departed norfolk on 8 july 1945 pacific. serving casualty transport various ports in pacific ocean, repose served base hospital ship in shanghai , later tsingtao, china supporting occupation forces in northern china. repose remained in asian waters, occasional return trip states until july 1949. decommissioned, in reserve, @ san francisco on 19 january 1950.

repose activated on 26 august 1950 , sailed pusan korea, picking navy crew in yokosuka, japan en route. serving in korean waters , evacuating patients japanese ports necessary, repose remained on station until 1954 short repair period in san francisco february march 1953 , installation of helicopter landing pad. remained @ long beach naval shipyard until transfer naval reserve fleet on 27 september 1954; , decommissioned on 21 december 1954 @ hunters point naval ship yard.

after 11 years in reserve @ suisun bay, repose recommissioned on 16 october 1965 service in vietnam. arriving on 3 january 1966, permanently deployed southeast asia , earned nickname “angel of orient.” operating in corps area, treated on 9,000 battle casualties , 24,000 inpatients while deployed. notably, uss repose on station during 1967 uss forrestal fire killed 134 sailors , injured 161. medical staff treated legendary marksman, staff sergeant carlos hathcock, in september 1969 after , 7 other u.s. marines suffered extensive burns anti-tank mine blast. repose departed vietnam 14 march 1970 , decommissioned in may 1970 , used hospital annex long beach naval hospital. proved uneconomical , sold scrap in 1975.