A river in the central eastern portion of Delaware.
I
Mispillion (AO‑105) was laid down 14 February 1945 under a Maritime Commission contract by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pa.; launched 10 August 1945; sponsored by Mrs. C. E. Feddeman; acquired 30 November 1945; and commissioned 29 December 1945, Comdr. R. E. Wingler in command.
Although commissioned too late to see service in World War II Mispillion has operated extensively in nearly every area of the Pacific Ocean. Between 6 April 1946, when she joined Service Force, Pacific, and 1950 she alternated station tanker duty at Tsingtao, Shanghai, Subic Bay, and Eniwetok with shuttle runs between the Arabian oil port, Bahrein, and various ports in Japan, China, the Philippines, the Marshalls, and the Marianas. As station tanker at Eniwetok in 1948, she took part in operation "Sandstone," an atomic bomb test. In 1949 she performed cold weather operations off Alaska.
With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Mispillion joined TF 90. During her first combat tour she provided logistic support for the huge invasion force that landed U.N. forces at Inchon (15 September 1950), then rounded the peninsula to support the forces operating in the Wonsan area. After a brief respite on the west coast in the fall of 1951, she returned in November for a second combat tour. She continued to support U.N. naval forces as they enforced a continuous blockade of the North Korean coast, rendered gunfire support to U.N. ground forces, and bombarded Communist supply areas, troop concentrations, and transportation centers.
Operating in both the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, she also supported the fast carriers of TF 77, providing aviation gasoline in addition to fuel for the ships. Returning to the west coast in August 1952, she got underway again in September for another 9‑month western Pacific tour with the 7th Fleet. Although she operated primarily in the Korean combat area during each of the above tours, she spent at least 1 month each time as a station tanker at Kaohsiung supporting the Taiwan Straits patrol.
Between 1953 and 1964 Mispillion alternated western Pacific and west coast duty with yard periods in between. Participating in various exercises, she joined in operation "Redwing," her second atomic test, in the Marshalls in 1956.
On 16 April 1965 Mispillion was placed in commission in reserve as she prepared for a prolonged jumboization conversion and overhaul, begun at Toledo, Ohio, in April, and completed at Boston, Mass., 16 months later. With an increased capacity of over 93,000 barrels, an added length of almost 100 feet, and over 50 new billets, in addition to modern equipment, Mispillion departed Boston 6 September 1966 to return to her home port, Long Beach, Calif.
Seven months later she got underway for her first western Pacific deployment in 3 years. Arriving at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands 22 April 1967, she began a 7‑month cruise refueling carriers and gunfire support ships of the 7th Fleet operating in the Vietnam area. Servicing in particular the ships of Yankee Station, she transferred over 71 million gallons of fuel before returning to Long Beach 30 November. Cruising west coast and Hawaiian waters for the next 5 months, she conducted coastal operations and exercises in preparation for departing 11 May 1968 to serve with the 7th Fleet through the remainder of the year.
Mispillion received eight battle stars for Korean service.
