Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAV COL. Donald M. Keiser (FS-212)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Aircraft Repair Ship
  • Laid down between October 1944 and January 1945 as Freight Supply Vessel (FS-212), at Higgins Industries, New Orleans LA.
  • Launched between October 1944 and January 1945
  • Delivered between October 1944 and January 1945 to the War Shipping Administration and allocated to the War Department
  • Converted to an Aircraft Repair Ship at Mobile Air Tactical Command Brookley Field, Mobile, AL.
  • Commissioned, COL. Donald M. Keiser, date unknown
  • During World War II COL. Donald M. Keiser was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, date and location unknown
  • Sold, date unknown, renamed MV Ruth Ann
  • Resold, in 1969 to an Italian firm, reflagged Italy, renamed M/V L. F. Marsili
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1988
    Specifications:
    Displacement 575 t.
    Length 180'
    Beam 32'
    Draft 14'
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    two 500hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 diesel engines
    twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Col. Donald M Keiser 32k
    Namesake
    Donald M Keiser was a US Army Air Corp officer who received the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action at Malang, Java 20 February 1942 for carrying a wounded comrade to safety during an air attack. Keiser died, 10 December 1942, of natural causes in his quarters while serving as Chief of Staff to IX Bomber Command in Middle Eastern Air Force. Probably the youngest airman to ever become Colonel at age 28. Born, 5 September 1914, in Hancock OH. Buried in the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia. He was also awarded the DFC with two Oak Leaf Clusters.    		 Tommy Trampp
    M/V L. F. Marsili
    Col. Donald M Keiser
    300721202    		 64k Italian school in port ship M/V L. F. Marsili moored pierside in an Italian port, date and location unknown John Spivey
    There is no history record available for COL. Donald M. Keiser at NavSource
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Index Back To The US Army Freight and Supply Vessel Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 19 November 2021