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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro (T-AK-254)
ex
USAT Sgt. Truman Kimbro (1947 - 1950)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Mike - Charlie - Oscar
NMCO

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Boulder Victory Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 30 September 1944, as Hastings Victory a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV 547) at Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, CA.

Launched, 30 November 1944

Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 22 December 1944 for operation by Grace Line

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 18 June 1946

Acquired by the US Army Transportation Service and commissioned, USAT Sgt. Truman Kimbro, 31 October 1947

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 19 January 1950, for lay up in th National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.

Acquired by the Navy, 5 August 1950

Placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro (T-AK-254) in September 1950

During the Korean War USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro (T-AK-254) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
Communist China Aggression 25 to 30 December 1950	First UN Counter Offensive 8 to 10 March 1951

Placed out of service (date unknown)

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 June 1973

Transferred, 16 March 1976, to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay , Benecia, CA.

USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro (T-AK-254) earned two battle stars for Korean War service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 1 October 1982, to C.W. Enterprise and Investment Co.

Specifications:
Displacement 15,199 t.(fl)
Length 455' 3"
Beam 62'
Draft 28' 6"
Speed 17 kts.
Complement 53
Armament four single 40mm gun mounts
Propulsion steam turbine, single screw, 8,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	65k	*Namesake* Technician Fourth Grade Truman Kimbro, a Texan serving in Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was killed near Rocherath, Belgium, on 19 December 1944. On that date, during the early phase of General von Runstedt's counter offensive now known as the “Battle of the Bulge,” Kimbro led a squad to mine a vital crossroads near Rocherath. After several attempts to reach the objective, which was protected by an enemy tank and approximately 20 infantrymen, he left his men in a protected position and, laden with mines, crawled toward the crossroads. Although severely wounded, he continued on through withering fire; planted his mines; then started back to his squad's position. Technician Fourth Grade Kimbro was killed as he left the crossroads. His actions, however, by delaying the advance of enemy armor, protected the rear of withdrawing columns. For his courage and sacrifice, Kimbro was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Photo: Medal of Honor Website	Bill Gonyo
	64k	*USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro* (T-AK-254)** berthed at the US-Army pier, Yokohama, Japan, December 1973.	Photo Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
	63k	*USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro* (T-AK-254)** berthed at the US-Army pier, Yokohama, Japan, December 1973.	Photo Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
0913025404	79k	*USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro* (T-AK-254)** anchored at Yokohama, Japan, in 1975.	Nicholas Tiberio
0913025405	111k	*USNS Sgt. Truman Kimbro* (T-AK-254)** offloading Vietnamese refugees at Subic Bay, 5 May 1975. Photo from www.picryl.com by www.wikimedia.org	John Spivey