U.S.S. Sacramento – 1964
Constructed during the early years of the Viet Nam War, she was commissioned as a “Combat Supply and Auxiliary Support Ship” (AEO-1). At 793’ and 53,000 tons, she is by far the largest ship in the US Fleet to be named ”Sacramento.” With a crew of 600, she has been assigned to the Seventh Fleet and award fifteen Battle Stars. She has been dubbed a floating supermarket, holding in a single load eight million gallons of fuel, 1600 tons of ammunition, 250 tons of refrigerated products and 250 tons of staple foods plus parts for repairs, etc.
In one nine-month period she set a record by supplying 812 ships with 74 million gallons of fuel, 3,000 tons of provisions, 14,000 tons of ammunition and 1,000 tons of other materials. During this period, her two helicopters delivered 5,000 tons via that service.
Only three other support ships of her class were built and placed in service. They also were named after American cities – the Camden, Seattle and Detroit.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of Capital Mall and Front Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
