U.S.S. YANCEY AKA-93

Ken Grooms's Navy A story for the USS Yancey

The Yancey and the K10 Battle Star for the Korean War

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How the Yancey received K10 star during the Korean War

Background:

The other day I got a Call from Hank Pohlman concerning the time period that the Yancey was in Inchon, Korea. The date, in his personnel record, for the authorization of the K10 engagement star, indicated that it was from July 25 thru July 27 1953. This was not quite the same dates that I had in my records. I reviewed the ship logs for those dates as well as the beginning of August 1953. A review of the logs for July 25, 1953 revealed that the Yancey was tied up to buoy 22 (where else?) in Sasebo, Japan. We had been in Sasebo since the 20th of July. We had just unloaded a load of Navy passengers from Yokosuka, Japan. This was our usual anchorage when in Sasebo. We were tied along side our sister ship, the USS Uvalde (AKA-88). Further review of the logs show that on August 2, the Yancey was ordered to proceed to Inchon, Korea. This was a special mission to replenish the hospital ship USS Haven. Since the truce was about to be signed, I suspect that the Haven expected to receive some released wounded other personnel needing medical attention. Hank said he was asked to clear out one of the refers and reset the refer temperature control in anticipation of carrying some frozen supplies or other items.

The Yancey's ship logs for August 2, 1953 read as follows:

0455 Completed loading and unloading stores in number three hold.
0500 Set special sea detail.
0517 OOD Watch shifted to the bridge
0519 Energized degaussing.
0524 Stand by to answer all bells.
0537 Last line aboard, underway from Sasebo, Japan to Inchon, Korea in accordance with CTO
92.1 dispatch 010440Z dated August 1953.

I remember the trip well. It was very hot and sleeping below decks was so stifling that I and several others took our mattresses up on deck and slept there. This place was forward of No.3 hatch so we weren't in the path of soot when the ship "blew tubes". The continuous stream of fresh air was so much better for sleeping that we did it again.

On August 3, 1953 we arrived in Inchon, Korea with one intermediate stop. The logs for the stop read:

0928 Changed course to identify object seen floating to starboard.
0945 Lowered LCVP number 2.
1001 Identified object as airplane wing tank. Sank same with rifle fire.

(As I remember this episode, Capt. K had all hands cleared of the starboard side except the gunner's mates and ordered them to sink the tank. I don't think we earned the engagement star for this act of bravery - but it was a duty to remove any objects that might be a danger to navigation).

We arrived in Inchon later in the day as the logs indicate.

1149 Arrival at Inchon, Korea.
1152 Set anchor detail.
1153 Changed speed to all ahead standard.
1248 Let go starboard anchor.
1254 Heaved in starboard anchor to 15 fathoms
1304 Let go the starboard anchor.
1308 Anchored at berth B-1 Inchon, Korea
1313 Commenced off loading fleet issue. (To LCU alongside)

The Logs for the USS Haven on August 3, 1953 read as follows:

Anchored in berth Abel 8 Inchon, Korea
1310 Thirty hand working party left ship for U.S.S. Yancey for loading of stores.
1440 group of approx. 25 newspaper/press came aboard.
1455 disbursing officer came aboard with $52,000 dollars
1525 commenced loading ships store stock, dry provisions, fresh and frozen foods.

The Yancey stayed in Inchon until August 4, 1953. Logs read as follows:

0628 Anchor aweigh, underway from Inchon, Korea to Sasebo, Japan in accordance with CTG 92.1 dispatch---

The return to Sasebo was uneventful and we arrived at Sasebo the next day.

Logs for August 5, 1953 are as follows:

15:22 Doubled up all lines; moored alongside USS Aludra (AF-55) starboard side, bow to stem, at buoy 24, Sasebo, Japan.

Discussions with Hank, Pohiman indicate that the entry for his "star authorization" was not entered and signed until November, 1953. The actual star was authorized some time in September. I would guess that whoever entered the dates in Hank's and my records assumed that the Yancey was in Inchon at the start of the authorization day and stayed two days. They were half right. My record shows the authorization dates as July 20, 1953 thru July 27, 1953 and signed by the same officer as Hank's. So, these dates are not in total agreement. I think, the dates were probably extended at a later date to cover the period that we actually were in Korean waters.

Navy Historical Records on the Internet show that the Yancey was authorized 3 battle stars for The Korean War. They are K1 for October 1950, K4 for March of 1951 and K10 from July, 25, 1953 to August 10, 1953.

Yancey was in Inchon from October 12, 1950 to October 13, 1950 and at Pusan, Korea from March 28, 1951 to March29, 1951. The official date for the signing of the cease fire was July 27, 1953. While there may appear to be some discrepancy in the dates, I believe the K10 authorization date was simply extended beyond the truce date.

Kenneth Groom
2/21/2004

Submitted 2/10/07
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