(YTB-396: dp. 345 (f.); l. 100'0"; b. 25'0"; dr. 11'0"; s. 12 k.; cpl. 14; cl. Sassaba)
A Paiute Indian, born in about 1856 in the Mason Valley of Nevada, who while in a delirium, during or near 1888, had a dream that he described as a revelation from the Great Spirit. As a result of this experience, he became a prophet, foretelling of the return to the old way of life for the Indians, and instituted a "ghost dance" that became widespread among his followers. However, when his prophecies failed to materialize, his popularity diminished, especially in view of the Sioux uprisings in 1890 and 1891. He gradually lost his adherents and died, relatively unnoticed, in 1932. He was buried on the shore of Walker Lake, Nevada.
Wovoka (YT-396) was laid down on 10 March 1944 at Jacksonville, Fla., by Gibbs Gas Engine Co.; re-classified YTB-396 on 15 May 1944; launched on 28 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth J. Martin; and delivered to the Navy on 2 March 1945.
After intial service in the 12th Naval District, San Francisco, Calif., Wovoka was inactivated and placed out of service in March of 1946. Her stay in the reserve fleet, berthed at Seattle, Wash., was a comparatively short one, for she was reactivated in September of 1950 during the fleet-wide expansion caused by the Korean War. Soon thereafter, she resumed her unsung but vital tasks as a harbor tug at San Francisco and provided tug and tow services in the 12th Naval District into the early 1970's. Reclassified a medium harbor tug, YTM-396, in February of 1962, with the advent of larger, more powerful tugs, Wovoka was ultimately placed out of service. Struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1974, she was sold in October 1974.
