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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Mark (AKL-12)
ex
 USS Mark (AG-143) (1947 - 1949)
 USAV Col. Raymond T. Lester (FS-214) (1944 - 1947)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Golf - Foxtrot
 NCGF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2-[15 Feb 67, 19 Nov 67])
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (10)
Third Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (4) - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (12) - (20 February 1968)

USS Mark (AKL-12) was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed ROCS Yung Kang (A-514)
Camano Class Light Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1943, at Higgins Industries New Orleans, LA. for the US Army, as FS-214
  • Delivered to the US Army in December 1944
  • Designed with the well deck covered to provide shop space for the work of repairing aircraft by an embarked Aircraft Maintenance Unit (Floating).
  • Christened and commissioned USAV Col. Raymond T. Lester (FS-214), date unknown
  • USAV Col. Raymond T. Lester (FS-214) suffered a casualty when the ship's starboard engine exploded, 13 April 1945. Albert M. Boe, the civilian Chief Engineer, stayed at his post to shut down engines despite burns that were fatal. He was awarded the posthumous Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
  • USNS Albert M. Boe (T-AKV-6) was named in his honor.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 30 September 1947, at US Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I.
  • Commissioned USS Mark (AG-143), 2 December 1947, CDR. Kenneth Charles Kicker in command
  • Redesignated (AKL-12), 13 March 1949
  • Decommissioned and place in service in 1956
  • Recommissioned, 1 October 1965
  • During the Vietnam War USS Mark participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    29 December 1965 to 11 January 1966
    21 January to 5 February 1966
    18 February to 3 March 1966
    18 March to 5 April 1966
    18 April to 5 May 1966
    17 May to 30 June 1966     		Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    1 to 8 June 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    1 to 27 July 1966
    30 August 25 October 1966
    15 November to 16 December 1966
    1 January to 31 May 1967     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 21 July 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 to 17 June 1967
    24 October 1967     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 January to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    30 June 1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 May to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 31 December 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 July to 2 August 1970
    31 October 1970 to 27 March 1971

  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1971 and leased under the Security Assistance Program to Taiwan, renamed Yung Kang (A-514)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976
  • USS Mark earned ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Sold to Taiwan, 1 May 1976, under the Security Assistance Program
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 550 t.
    Length 180'
    Beam 33'
    Draft 10'
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 42
    Propulsion
    two 500hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 Diesel engines
    twin propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Mark (AKL-12)
    Mark 44k USS Mark (AKL-12) at anchor in 1966. location unknown
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mark 85k USS Mark (AKL-12) under way in South Vietnam, circa 1966. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Mark 41k USS Mark (AKL-12) under way circa 1969-71.
    Photo courtesy of Dick Raffl and Mobile Riverine Force Association web site.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mark 54k USS Mark (AKL-12) tied up alongside a barge at Nha Be. Note the damage to her starboard side, the result of Mark running into a barge while underway in April 1970.
    Photo courtesy of Dick Raffl and Mobile Riverine Force Association web site.    		 Photo - Robert Hurst
    Caption - David Rinehart USS Mark, April 1970 to July 1971.
    Mark 51k USS Mark (AKL-12) moored with damage from barge strike showing, circa April 1970. David Rinehart USS Mark, April 1970 to July 1971.
    Mark 47k
    Mark 57k USS Mark (AKL-12) drydocked in Japan, date unknown.
    Photo courtesy of Dick Raffl and Mobile Riverine Force Association web site.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mark 47k USS Mark (AKL-12), near Cat Lo, RVN, March 1971. Photo taken just days before Mark left Vietnam to be turned over to the Taiwanese Navy. Stan Lambert YN2 USS Mark 1970-1971
    ROCS Yung Kang (A-514)
    Mark 44k Ex-USS Mark (AKL-12) in Taiwanese service as ROCS Yung Kang (A-514) Taiwan Navy Web Site
    USS Mark (AKL-12)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    and the history entry located at the Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Kicker, Charles Kenneth2 December 1947 - ?
    02LCDR. Watson, Ebert Steiner, USN2 January 1953 - 24 December 1953
    03LCDR. Samuel, Thomas Wilson, USN24 December 1953 - 27 February 1954
    04LT. Wagner, Armin Siegfried, USN27 February 1954 - 30 April 1954
    05LT. Hughes, Scot Ernest30 April 1954 - ?
    06CHBOSN (CWO-4), Page, Jack Wesley, USN1956
    07CHBOSN (CWO-4) Van Cleef, Jacque Edward, USN1962
    08LT. Sanderlin, Francis Richard, USN1 October 1965 - August 1967
    09LT. Kicker, Charles Kenneth, USNRAugust 1967 - June 1968
    10LT. Warren Farrell Dean, USNJune 1968 - June 1969
    11LT. Yielding, Walter F. B., USNJune 1969 - 24 June 1970
    12LT. Robinson Jr., William Burton, USN24 June 1970 - 1 July 1971
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Change of Command program, Robinson for Yielding, 24 June 1970
    Decommissioning and Transfer to the Republic of China, 1 July 1971
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Photo Index Back To The US Navy Service Ship Photo Index Back To The US Army Freight and Supply Vessels Photo Index Back To The US Navy Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG) Photo Index Back To The US Navy Light Cargo Ship (AKL) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 13 October 2023