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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169)
ex
USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-APC-119) (1950 - 1959)
USAT Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (1945 - 1950)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Sierra - Charlie
NCSC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

American Campaign Medal - World WAr II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal

Miscellaneous Auxiliary (Technical Research Ship):
  • Laid down, 22 April 1944, as MV Joe P. Martinez, a Maritime Commission hull type (C1-M-AV1) under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2245) at Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Duluth, MN.
  • Launched, 27 October 1944 as MV Round Splice
  • Transferred to the American Shipbuilding Co., Chicago, IL, for completion, 15 December 1944
  • Completed and delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 5 July 1945, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Acquired by the US Army, 12 July 1945, and commissioned USAT Round Splice
  • Renamed USAT Pvt. Jose F. Valdez in 1947
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 2 September 1950 and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-APC-119)
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 22 December 1959, at Galveston, TX. for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Transferred to the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, VA., 1 May 1961
  • Withdrawn from reserve and transferred to the US Navy, 29 August 1961, for conversion to a Technical Research Ship
  • Placed in service as USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169), date unknown
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration 7 November 1969, at the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, VA., for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1976
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 27 July 1977, to Consolidated-Andy Inc. for $309,999.00 (MARAD Sale PD-X-1019 dated 14 June 1977)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement unknown
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity non refrigerated 177,515 Cu ft., 3,945 DWT
    Armament none
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg TSM6 Diesel engine
    two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,700shp

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    By
    USAT Pvt. Jose F. Valdez
    Pvt Jose F Valdez 21k Private First Class Jose F. Valdez , U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division - Citation: He was on outpost duty with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked with overwhelming strength. From his position near some woods 500 yards beyond the American lines he observed a hostile tank about 75 yards away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire until it withdrew. Soon afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily approaching through the woods. Scorning cover as the enemy soldiers opened up with heavy automatic weapons fire from a range of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with the attackers until he had killed all 3. The enemy quickly launched an attack with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting the patrol with murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and beginning an encircling movement which forced the patrol leader to order a withdrawal. Despite the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez immediately volunteered to cover the maneuver, and as the patrol 1 by 1 plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American lines, he fired burst after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were wounded in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet that entered his stomach and, passing through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming agonizing pain, he regained control of himself and resumed his firing position, delivering a protective screen of bullets until all others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called for artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range until he had shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For 15 minutes he refused to be dislodged by more than 200 of the enemy; then, seeing that the barrage had broken the counter attack, he dragged himself back to his own lines. He died later as a result of his wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, Pfc. Valdez made it possible for his comrades to escape, and was directly responsible for repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces. Bill Gonyo
    Pvt Jose F Valdez 232k USAT Pvt. Jose F. Valdez moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    ©World Ship Society
    Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169)
    Pvt Jose F Valdez 37k USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169) under way, date and location unknown. From collection of Frank Guilfoy
    via USS Oxford (AG-159/AGTR-1)
    web site
    Pvt Jose F Valdez 80k USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from 1966/67 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships".
    Robert Hurst
    Pvt Jose F Valdez 80k USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Pvt Jose F Valdez
    094916906
    184k USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169) underway in port, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Pvt Jose F Valdez
    094916907
    24k USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169) In Port, Monrovia, Liberia, 1968-69 with a large TRSSCOMM antenna newly added on her stern.
    Photo courtesy of Shipscribe.com.
    Robert Hurst

    USNS Pvt. Jose F. Valdez (T-AG-169)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    US Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association
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    Last Updated 14 June 2024