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USS Kalamazoo (AOR 6)

USS KALAMAZOO was the sixth WICHITA-class replenishment oiler and the third United States Navy vessel to receive the name Kalamazoo, honoring the city and county of Kalamazoo in southwestern Michigan. KALAMAZOO ended more than 23 years of service to the fleet when it was decommissioned at Norfolk Naval Base on August 16, 1996. Stricken from the Navy list on October 29, 1998, the ship spent the following years laid up at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, Va. In July 2008, the KALAMAZOO was sold to Esco Marine, Brownsville, Tx., for scrapping.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS KALAMAZOO. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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• Click here to see which USS KALAMAZOO memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS KALAMAZOO Cruise Books:

• Commissioning Cruise Book 1973-74
• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1976-77

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Accidents aboard USS KALAMAZOO:

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USS KALAMAZOO History:

The contract for USS KALAMAZOO's construction was awarded on July 1, 1967, and her keel was laid on October 1, 1970, at the Quincy Shipbuilding Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on November 1, 1972, and subsequently underwent fitting-out, machinery installation, testing and preparations for delivery to the Navy. The ship was delivered on July 1, 1973, and commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on August 11, 1973, with Captain John H. Bres as her first commanding officer. The principal speaker at the commissioning ceremony was Gilbert H. Bradley, mayor of Kalamazoo, Michigan. USS KALAMAZOO was among the last major naval vessels commissioned at the historic Boston Navy Yard before its closure.

Following commissioning, USS KALAMAZOO began her initial period of operational evaluation, training and preparation for service with the Atlantic Fleet. Her first homeport was Naval Station Mayport, Florida, near Jacksonville. During the latter part of 1973, she conducted shakedown and replenishment training in the Atlantic and Caribbean, familiarizing her crew with shiphandling, engineering procedures, emergency drills and the transfer of fuel and stores at sea. Her early training activities included operations in the Caribbean around Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These exercises were particularly important for a replenishment oiler because receiving ships had to maintain accurate courses, speeds and separation distances while fuel hoses and cargo-transfer equipment were connected between vessels. During her first year of service, USS KALAMAZOO also began supporting American naval forces operating in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The continuing American presence in the Mediterranean was influenced by the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War, which had increased naval activity in the eastern Mediterranean and prompted substantial movements of American and Soviet warships. During this initial period, USS KALAMAZOO supplied fuel and other materials to deployed fleet units while establishing the operating procedures that would characterize her subsequent service.

In June 1974, USS KALAMAZOO began another Mediterranean deployment, operating as part of the Sixth Fleet's logistical support organization. The deployment continued into February 1975 and involved replenishment assignments across the Mediterranean. American carrier battle groups and their escorts were maintaining a continuous presence in the region while diplomatic negotiations continued following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and political tensions persisted in the eastern Mediterranean. USS KALAMAZOO's assignments involved supplying fuel and stores to ships operating at sea, reducing the need for individual warships to interrupt their missions to visit naval bases. Rota, Spain, remained an important American naval logistics and turnover location at the western entrance to the Mediterranean, while other Mediterranean facilities supported the loading, maintenance and repair requirements of the Sixth Fleet. The ship's service during this period contributed to the operational readiness of the American naval forces assigned to the region. During 1975, USS KALAMAZOO was selected for the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award as the Atlantic Fleet's outstanding ship in her competitive category.

Captain Jerry O. Tuttle relieved Captain Bres as commanding officer on April 30, 1975. During the following months, USS KALAMAZOO participated in Atlantic Fleet and NATO exercises, including operations in the northern Atlantic. These activities involved the movement of American and allied naval formations into northern European waters, where exercises were conducted to practice the protection of maritime communications, coordinated surface operations and the ability of naval forces to operate in areas approaching the Arctic Circle. USS KALAMAZOO supported participating ships with underway replenishment services.

A documented operation during October 1975 involved the replenishment of the guided missile cruiser USS RICHMOND K. TURNER (CG 20) in the North Atlantic. The ships operated in waters where adverse weather and heavy seas could complicate replenishment procedures. During November, USS KALAMAZOO was involved in operations associated with NATO Exercise Ocean Safari, which included naval forces operating in the North Atlantic and northern European waters. On November 26, 1975, USS KALAMAZOO departed Scottish waters in company with the guided missile cruiser USS ALBANY (CG 10), beginning a westbound Atlantic passage. USS ALBANY subsequently arrived at Norfolk on December 10. The exercise program formed part of NATO's continuing effort to maintain the ability to reinforce Europe by sea in the event of a conflict involving the Warsaw Pact.

During the first months of 1976, USS KALAMAZOO resumed operations from Mayport and participated in replenishment training with American and allied ships. In April, the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels RFA REGENT (A486) and RFA OLMEDA (A124) visited Mayport during a deployment to the western Atlantic. USS KALAMAZOO served as the American host ship during the visit. The British auxiliaries subsequently continued their own operations with Royal Navy vessels, including the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL (R09). The visit formed part of the routine cooperation between American and British naval support forces operating in the Atlantic.

During the summer, USS KALAMAZOO participated in the American Bicentennial celebrations. On July 4, 1976, she was among the United States Navy vessels participating in the International Naval Review in New York Harbor, an event associated with Operation Sail 1976 and the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of American independence. Other American ships taking part included USS FORRESTAL (CV 59), USS DALE (CG 19), USS WAINWRIGHT (CG 28), USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20), USS SAVANNAH (AOR 4) and USS SAN DIEGO (AFS 6). The review assembled American and foreign naval vessels in New York Harbor and was attended by President Gerald R. Ford.

Captain Edwin R. Kohn, Jr., assumed command on August 11, 1976. USS KALAMAZOO subsequently resumed Atlantic Fleet operations and continued training in preparation for another Mediterranean deployment. On September 14, 1976, she replenished the destroyer USS BORDELON (DD 881) in the Atlantic Ocean. A Navy photograph documents the two vessels during the replenishment. Later that same day, USS BORDELON was involved in a collision with the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), an incident that caused substantial damage to the destroyer and ultimately contributed to her withdrawal from service. On September 25, USS KALAMAZOO conducted a documented firing exercise with her aft 3-inch/50-caliber guns. Gunnery exercises formed part of the ship's self-defense training and were conducted alongside her replenishment, engineering and damage-control activities.

At the beginning of 1977, USS KALAMAZOO was preparing for another Mediterranean assignment. On January 18, she conducted an underway replenishment with USS BASILONE (DD 824) in the Atlantic Ocean. During the passage toward the Mediterranean, she also supported ships participating in fleet exercises associated with the transfer of naval forces to the Sixth Fleet. At the end of January, she operated near the Strait of Gibraltar, where she rendezvoused with USS FARRAGUT (DDG 37). The destroyer had deployed from the United States with USS JOHN F. KENNEDY and other units on January 15, 1977, but had been forced to alter its Atlantic route because of severe weather. After reaching the approaches to the Mediterranean, USS FARRAGUT met USS KALAMAZOO and participated in Exercise Lockgate, which continued from January 31 through February 10. The exercise tested NATO procedures for maintaining or regaining control of the Strait of Gibraltar during a major military contingency. USS KALAMAZOO provided replenishment support during the operation. The strait was of considerable strategic importance because it connected the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean and was essential to the movement of American reinforcements and naval forces between the two operating areas.

During the following months, USS KALAMAZOO continued Sixth Fleet operations throughout the Mediterranean. Her deployment included the routine logistical support of aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and amphibious vessels conducting exercises and operational assignments in the region. The American naval presence reflected continuing concern over Soviet naval activity in the Mediterranean, instability in Lebanon and the security of the eastern Mediterranean following the conflicts of the early 1970s. USS KALAMAZOO returned to the United States during the summer of 1977 and resumed Atlantic Fleet activities.

Captain Dean E. Cramer relieved Captain Kohn on December 20, 1977. During 1978, the ship continued local replenishment exercises and fleet support missions before entering an extended maintenance period. The regular overhaul began during the latter part of 1978 and continued until May 1979. The work involved maintenance and repairs to the ship's propulsion machinery, auxiliary systems and replenishment equipment. Following completion of the overhaul, USS KALAMAZOO underwent the training and inspections required to return to operational service. Captain Jeremy D. Taylor assumed command on May 24, 1979.

During the remainder of 1979, USS KALAMAZOO continued Atlantic Fleet operations at a time when American naval commitments were being affected by developments in the Middle East. The Iranian Revolution had overthrown the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and relations between the United States and Iran deteriorated sharply. On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants occupied the American Embassy in Tehran and took American diplomatic personnel hostage. The United States responded by increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. This created additional requirements for replenishment ships capable of supporting carrier groups operating far from major American supply bases. USS KALAMAZOO continued preparations for overseas operations while American naval forces maintained their deployments in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

In the spring of 1980, USS KALAMAZOO began another major overseas deployment that took her through the Mediterranean and into the Indian Ocean. The operation occurred against the background of the continuing Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan, which had begun in December 1979. American carrier and surface forces were maintaining an increased presence in the Arabian Sea, while the Sixth Fleet continued its normal responsibilities in the Mediterranean. USS KALAMAZOO carried fuel, provisions, ammunition and other supplies for distribution to warships operating across these regions. Her Mediterranean movements included a visit to Barcelona, Spain, where she was photographed on July 12, 1980. The Spanish port provided an opportunity for the crew to go ashore during the overseas deployment. USS KALAMAZOO continued her operating schedule through the summer and returned to the United States later in the year. Captain Paul M. Feran relieved Captain Taylor on August 14, 1980. Following the deployment, the ship resumed Atlantic Fleet duties, including replenishment exercises and preparations for subsequent operations.

On January 28, 1981, USS KALAMAZOO collided with the combat stores ship USS SYLVANIA (AFS 2) during an underway replenishment operation in the Virginia Capes operating area off the American East Coast. Both vessels sustained minor damage. The incident occurred during a type of maneuver that required replenishment ships and receiving vessels to operate at relatively close separation while maintaining matching courses and speeds. Following the incident, USS KALAMAZOO continued her normal Atlantic Fleet assignments. During the remaining months of 1981, she conducted replenishment training and prepared for another overseas deployment.

In October 1981, USS KALAMAZOO began an extended deployment involving the Mediterranean and waters off West Africa. The deployment continued until April 1982 and combined Sixth Fleet support duties with operations in the eastern Atlantic. American naval forces were maintaining regular deployments along the Atlantic approaches to Africa while continuing to monitor Soviet naval activity and developments affecting the security of maritime routes. USS KALAMAZOO's work consisted of replenishing warships operating in these waters and supporting the movements of American naval formations between operating areas. Captain Leighton W. Smith, Jr., relieved Captain Feran on January 17, 1982, during the deployment. Smith later held several senior Navy and NATO positions, including command of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66) and eventually command of Allied Forces Southern Europe. USS KALAMAZOO returned to the United States in April 1982, completing the Mediterranean and West African assignment. Following her return, she resumed upkeep, training and preparations for another overseas deployment.

During October 1982, USS KALAMAZOO participated in Atlantic Fleet readiness exercises before returning to the Mediterranean. The frigate USS CAPODANNO (FF 1093), preparing for its own deployment, conducted underway replenishment training with USS KALAMAZOO during ReadEx 3-82, which took place from October 1 through October 14 in Caribbean operating areas. The exercise included gunnery, antisubmarine warfare and shiphandling activities around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USS KALAMAZOO's participation provided the opportunity for deployed and deploying ships to maintain their proficiency in fuel transfers and close-quarters maneuvering.

USS KALAMAZOO subsequently began another Mediterranean deployment in November 1982. The assignment took place during a period of increased American naval activity off Lebanon, where Israel's invasion in June had led to the withdrawal of Palestine Liberation Organization forces from Beirut and the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force. American naval vessels operated off the Lebanese coast while amphibious ships carried Marines assigned to the multinational presence. USS KALAMAZOO provided logistical support to Sixth Fleet units operating in the region. The American naval force required continuing replenishment of propulsion fuel, aviation fuel and other supplies, particularly during periods when ships remained offshore rather than making regular port visits. The deployment also involved routine exercises and other Sixth Fleet commitments throughout the Mediterranean.

During the first months of 1983, USS KALAMAZOO continued her Mediterranean assignment. On May 18, she participated in an underway replenishment involving USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) and the guided missile frigate USS CLIFTON SPRAGUE (FFG 16). The frigate returned to Mayport on May 20 after completing its operating period. USS KALAMAZOO also concluded her Mediterranean deployment during the spring. Captain John D. Rasmussen relieved Captain Smith on July 20, 1983.

During the second half of 1983, USS KALAMAZOO entered a substantial modernization and overhaul period at Hoboken Shipyards, New Jersey. The work was being carried out in December 1983 and was reported in the contemporary maritime trade press as a contract valued at approximately $14.25 million. USS KALAMAZOO was placed in a 26,000-ton-capacity floating drydock for the overhaul. The shipyard had previously been operated by Bethlehem Steel and had been acquired by Hoboken Shipyards in January 1983. The overhaul included extensive repair and maintenance work on the ship's machinery and other systems and formed part of the Navy's program to maintain the readiness of its replenishment force. The work continued into 1984 and was completed during the summer. Following the overhaul, USS KALAMAZOO underwent the necessary training and inspections to restore her operational qualifications. Her crew resumed engineering drills, damage-control exercises and replenishment training before returning to the normal deployment cycle.

During the latter part of 1984 and the opening months of 1985, USS KALAMAZOO continued Atlantic Fleet operations and prepared for another Mediterranean deployment. Captain James D. Joyner relieved Captain Rasmussen on March 23, 1985. During April, USS KALAMAZOO supported the Atlantic crossing of ships proceeding toward the Mediterranean. On April 11, she conducted an underway replenishment with the guided missile destroyer USS KIDD (DDG 993), which was deploying as part of the carrier battle group centered on USS NIMITZ. Another replenishment of USS KIDD followed on April 17. The destroyer had previously conducted readiness exercises with the carrier group before beginning its Atlantic passage. These replenishments enabled the deploying ships to continue their movement toward the Sixth Fleet operating area without an additional port call for fuel.

USS KALAMAZOO subsequently continued her Mediterranean assignment as part of the logistical support force assigned to the Sixth Fleet. Her deployment included support for American carrier groups and surface combatants operating in the western and eastern Mediterranean. The assignment took place during a period of continued instability in Lebanon, where the civil war had not ended despite the withdrawal of most American and other multinational forces during 1984.

In June 1985, USS KALAMAZOO became involved in the American naval response to the hijacking of Trans World Airlines Flight 847. The aircraft was seized on June 14 while flying from Athens to Rome and was subsequently diverted between Beirut and Algiers. One American passenger, Navy diver Robert D. Stethem, was murdered during the crisis. Following the hijacking, American naval forces in the Mediterranean were repositioned as a precautionary measure. The aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ, accompanied by the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37), USS KIDD and USS KALAMAZOO, was ordered toward the Lebanese coast. The carrier canceled a scheduled visit to Livorno, Italy, while USS KIDD interrupted a port visit to Haifa, Israel, to rejoin the formation.

On June 17, 1985, the battle group was reported operating off Beirut. USS KALAMAZOO's role was to support the ships of the formation with fuel and supplies while they remained available for possible military contingencies. American officials ultimately concluded that an attempt to rescue the hostages by force would be exceptionally difficult because they had been removed from the aircraft and dispersed to different locations in Beirut. The crisis was resolved through diplomatic negotiations, and the remaining hostages were released by June 30. USS KALAMAZOO continued Sixth Fleet operations after the incident and remained deployed in the Mediterranean during the following months.

The remainder of 1985 included routine replenishment assignments and naval exercises conducted against the background of continuing political instability in the eastern Mediterranean and heightened tension between the United States and Libya. In October, American naval forces responded to the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship ACHILLE LAURO, while subsequent terrorist attacks in Europe contributed to additional diplomatic and military tension. USS KALAMAZOO continued its support role within the Sixth Fleet during this period, supplying warships assigned to the region. Her Mediterranean deployment ended toward the close of 1985, and she returned to the United States for maintenance, crew leave and further training.

During 1986, USS KALAMAZOO remained in the Atlantic Fleet and participated in replenishment exercises and large-force training. Her operations included exercises in the northern Atlantic during the late summer and autumn, where participating American naval forces conducted training in waters approaching and crossing the Arctic Circle. Such operations exposed ships to lower temperatures, heavy seas and the navigational and operational conditions of northern European waters. USS KALAMAZOO furnished fuel and other supplies to participating vessels during the exercise period.

On August 17, 1986, USS KALAMAZOO conducted an underway replenishment with USS KIDD during the opening phase of a major Atlantic exercise deployment. The formation included USS NIMITZ, the battleship USS IOWA (BB 61), USS MOUNT WHITNEY, USS SOUTH CAROLINA, USS RICHARD E. BYRD (DDG 23), USS THORN (DD 988), USS DOYLE (FFG 39), USS W. S. SIMS (FF 1059), USS MOINESTER (FF 1097), USS TRUETT (FF 1095) and the ammunition ship USS NITRO (AE 23). The operation formed part of a wider training program involving the movement of American naval forces into northern European waters. The exercises tested cooperation among carrier groups, surface combatants and supporting ships during operations in the North Atlantic. USS KALAMAZOO's replenishment duties enabled participating units to continue their training without returning to port for fuel or supplies.

Captain Donald L. McCrory relieved Captain Joyner on September 22, 1986. The ship subsequently prepared for another extended Mediterranean deployment, which began toward the end of the year.

USS KALAMAZOO returned to the Sixth Fleet operating area during the winter of 1986-1987. Her assignment included support of aircraft carriers and surface combatants conducting exercises, surveillance and operational missions across the Mediterranean. American naval forces remained active in the region following the military confrontation with Libya in April 1986, while the continuing civil war in Lebanon presented additional security concerns.

On February 5, 1987, USS KALAMAZOO was involved in a large replenishment operation with units of Carrier Group Eight in the Mediterranean. Navy photographs show USS KALAMAZOO servicing USS NIMITZ, USS RICHARD E. BYRD and the guided missile cruiser USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS (CG 27). The receiving vessels were positioned on both sides of the replenishment oiler, allowing several transfers to be carried out during the same evolution.

Another photograph taken on February 5, 1987, shows USS KALAMAZOO operating off Beirut in a formation that included USS NIMITZ, USS JOHN F. KENNEDY, USS W. S. SIMS, USS SAVANNAH and USS RICHARD E. BYRD. USS KALAMAZOO and USS SAVANNAH provided replenishment capacity for the formation.

Later in February 1987, USS KALAMAZOO supported ships passing through the Mediterranean toward the Suez Canal. On February 22, she replenished the guided missile frigate USS STARK (FFG 31), which was proceeding toward the Red Sea and Persian Gulf region with other American warships. USS STARK had refueled at Rota, Spain, earlier in the passage and was preparing to transit the Suez Canal, which she passed through on February 24. The frigate subsequently proceeded toward the Persian Gulf, where it was later severely damaged by Iraqi air-launched missiles on May 17, 1987. USS KALAMAZOO's replenishment of the frigate occurred before that incident and formed part of the routine support of American warships moving between the Sixth Fleet and Middle East operating areas.

On June 17, 1987, USS KALAMAZOO participated in a major formation maneuver during the turnover between the outgoing USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) battle group and the incoming USS SARATOGA (CV 60) battle group in the Mediterranean. An aerial photograph taken during the event shows USS KALAMAZOO in the center of a formation that included both carriers and a number of escorts. The accompanying vessels included USS HAWES (FFG 53), USS DOYLE, USS W. S. SIMS, USS COMTE DE GRASSE (DD 974), USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS, USS CONOLLY (DD 979), USS TRUETT and USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DDG 44). The maneuver marked the transition between successive carrier deployments, with USS KITTY HAWK preparing to leave the Mediterranean and USS SARATOGA beginning its Sixth Fleet assignment. USS KALAMAZOO remained available to supply the ships of the deployed naval force. Following the conclusion of her Mediterranean service, she returned to the Atlantic Fleet and continued readiness training from the American East Coast.

During November 1987, USS KALAMAZOO supported advanced training by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). On November 22, she conducted a major ammunition replenishment with the carrier in the Atlantic. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER had been underway since October 26 for a series of training and inspection activities and returned to Norfolk on November 23. The replenishment operation with USS KALAMAZOO formed part of this operating period and involved the transfer of ammunition and associated material while the vessels remained underway.

During the opening months of 1988, USS KALAMAZOO continued Atlantic Fleet training and maintenance. Captain Joseph S. Mobley relieved Captain McCrory on June 23, 1988. The ship subsequently prepared for another overseas deployment, although a change in the Navy's replenishment schedule resulted in an unexpected assignment. The fast combat support ship USS DETROIT (AOE 4), which had been scheduled for Mediterranean duty, was unable to meet its deployment commitment. USS KALAMAZOO was selected to replace her and departed for the Mediterranean in December 1988. The deployment required the ship and her crew to undertake an extended period of overseas operations with relatively limited advance preparation compared with a normally scheduled deployment.

During the following six months, USS KALAMAZOO carried out extensive replenishment operations in support of the Sixth Fleet. Her assignments included the supply of aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates and other vessels operating across the Mediterranean. The deployment occurred during a period of changing relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, although American naval forces continued maintaining their regular presence and training programs in southern Europe. USS KALAMAZOO performed more than 300 alongside replenishment evolutions during this deployment without a reported injury or material failure in those operations. The ship also completed a short-notice operational propulsion plant examination and qualified for six of seven mission-area excellence awards. Her food-service organization finished fourth in the Navy-wide Ney Award competition, while the ship also exceeded the applicable first- and second-term reenlistment goals within Combat Logistics Squadron Four.

Specific replenishment operations during this deployment are documented in the command history of the aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71). On April 18 and April 19, 1989, USS KALAMAZOO conducted a substantial underway replenishment with the carrier, transferring approximately 1,349,671 gallons of aviation fuel and 122 pallets of cargo. The replenishment occurred as the carrier continued Mediterranean operations during a period that included visits to Monaco and preparations for NATO Exercise Dragon Hammer.

On April 25, USS KALAMAZOO began another major replenishment with USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, transferring approximately 1,346,655 gallons of aviation fuel during an evolution completed the following day. USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT was then participating in activities associated with Exercise Dragon Hammer, a multinational NATO exercise involving naval and air forces in the Mediterranean. USS KALAMAZOO supplied the carrier while it continued these exercises, including operations near southern Italy and Sicily.

USS KALAMAZOO concluded the unexpected Mediterranean deployment in June 1989 and returned to the United States. Her operational performance during the deployment was subsequently noted in official Navy assessments. During the following months, the ship resumed Atlantic Fleet duties and underwent normal post-deployment maintenance and training. A serious accident occurred on September 12, 1989, when two sailors working on the ship's main deck were washed overboard in the Atlantic Ocean. Both men were lost. The incident was recorded in the Navy's historical list of significant accidents and personnel casualties. USS KALAMAZOO continued her service following the accident.

During the final months of 1989 and into 1990, USS KALAMAZOO operated in the Caribbean, supporting American naval training and maritime security activities. Her assignments included operations in waters around Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, together with work involving the United States Coast Guard. The joint operations were connected with the continuing American effort to intercept illegal narcotics shipments moving through Caribbean maritime routes toward the United States. Naval vessels provided surveillance, communications and logistical support during these missions, while Coast Guard personnel conducted law enforcement activities under their statutory authority. USS KALAMAZOO continued furnishing replenishment services to participating vessels and supported normal Atlantic Fleet training. Captain Timothy P. Winters relieved Captain Mobley on January 26, 1990. During the spring, USS KALAMAZOO completed her Caribbean operating period and returned to normal Atlantic Fleet assignments.

On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, beginning an international crisis that substantially increased American military commitments in the Middle East. The United States responded by organizing a multinational coalition and deploying military forces to Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield. American naval forces moved into the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, while additional logistics vessels were assigned to support the expanding deployment. USS KALAMAZOO prepared for an overseas assignment connected with the military buildup. Her deployment began in December 1990 and took her through the Mediterranean toward the Red Sea and Persian Gulf region. The ship's responsibilities included the transfer of fuel, ammunition and provisions to American naval forces deployed in support of the coalition.

During the final weeks of 1990 and the opening months of 1991, USS KALAMAZOO operated in the Middle East logistical support system associated with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The coalition's military preparations involved aircraft carriers, surface combatants, amphibious vessels and supporting ships operating across a broad geographical area. Replenishment oilers were required to move between supply facilities and naval operating areas while maintaining enough fuel and other cargo aboard to support several receiving ships. USS KALAMAZOO performed these assignments during a period when American naval forces were enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq and preparing for possible military operations.

On January 17, 1991, coalition forces began Operation Desert Storm, conducting extensive air attacks against Iraqi military targets. During the following weeks, American naval aircraft operated from carriers in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, while surface combatants carried out missile strikes, escort duties and maritime security operations. USS KALAMAZOO continued supplying deployed warships during the conflict.

Coalition ground operations began on February 24, 1991, and major offensive operations ended with the suspension of hostilities on February 28. The subsequent withdrawal and redeployment of coalition naval forces required continued logistical support. During March 1991, USS KALAMAZOO was photographed at anchor in the Red Sea while awaiting passage through the Suez Canal after the conclusion of the main combat phase. The canal remained an important route for the movement of American warships between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, allowing naval forces to return to the Atlantic without sailing around southern Africa. USS KALAMAZOO subsequently returned through the Mediterranean and crossed the Atlantic toward Norfolk.

On April 18, 1991, USS KALAMAZOO returned to Naval Station Norfolk following her deployment in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The replenishment oiler arrived on the same day as USS AMERICA, which was also returning from the deployment. Contemporary reports document the homecoming, and Navy photographs show USS KALAMAZOO approaching the naval station and being maneuvered toward the pier by harbor tugs. During the Gulf War deployment, the ship supported a substantial number of American warships, with contemporary accounts crediting her with assisting more than 100 vessels. Her service during the campaign was recognized through the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three campaign stars. The deployment formed part of the largest American military operation since the Vietnam War and required extensive cooperation between naval combatants, replenishment vessels and shore-based logistical facilities.

Following her return to the United States, USS KALAMAZOO resumed Atlantic Fleet training and maintenance. Captain David C. Lundahl relieved Captain Winters on July 10, 1991. The ship's operating schedule during the latter part of the year reflected the Navy's transition from the large-scale coalition operation in the Persian Gulf to a period of continued regional commitments and routine fleet readiness training. Although the main combat phase of the Gulf War had ended, American naval forces remained in Southwest Asia to enforce United Nations resolutions and monitor Iraqi compliance with ceasefire arrangements. USS KALAMAZOO continued preparing for future deployments and supporting naval units operating from the East Coast.

During 1992, USS KALAMAZOO conducted replenishment exercises and prepared for another deployment with the carrier battle group centered on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY. The aircraft carrier departed on October 7, 1992, accompanied by a substantial surface force and supported by USS KALAMAZOO and the ammunition ship USS SANTA BARBARA (AE 28). The carrier's escorts included USS GETTYSBURG (CG 64), USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55), USS WAINWRIGHT, USS CARON (DD 970), USS HALYBURTON (FFG 40), USS McINERNEY (FFG 8) and USS CAPODANNO. The submarines USS SEAHORSE (SSN 669) and USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706) were also assigned to the deployment. The destroyer tender USS PUGET SOUND (AD 38) was another member of the force during the Atlantic passage. USS JOHN F. KENNEDY conducted carrier qualification training before beginning the Atlantic crossing on October 9. The force proceeded toward the Mediterranean, where American naval operations were increasingly influenced by the conflicts resulting from the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The carrier passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on October 18 and the Strait of Messina on October 21. USS JOHN F. KENNEDY anchored near Brindisi, Italy, on October 22 for the turnover with the outgoing USS SARATOGA battle group. The following day, the carrier proceeded into the Adriatic Sea, where American and allied warships were participating in the international response to the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United Nations had imposed sanctions and an arms embargo in connection with the fighting, and NATO naval forces were conducting surveillance and maritime interception operations. USS KALAMAZOO's task was to supply ships assigned to these operations, allowing them to remain in the Adriatic without frequent visits to ports outside the operating area. The replenishment oiler also supported the continuing training and operational requirements of the Sixth Fleet elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

During the winter of 1992-1993, USS KALAMAZOO continued her Mediterranean replenishment assignments. The naval presence in the Adriatic was connected with the enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolutions, while amphibious forces in the area supported international peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. American naval ships were also involved in Operation Provide Promise, the international effort to deliver humanitarian relief to Bosnia and Herzegovina. USS KALAMAZOO provided fuel and supplies to participating warships and amphibious vessels, including ships operating between the eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic.

On February 8, 1993, USS KALAMAZOO replenished the amphibious transport dock USS AUSTIN (LPD 4), which was operating in the eastern Mediterranean during the deployment of Amphibious Readiness Group 1-93. USS AUSTIN subsequently visited Antalya, Turkey, before proceeding toward the Adriatic. USS KALAMAZOO continued supplying the American amphibious force during its movements between operating areas.

On February 16, 1993, USS KALAMAZOO participated in a replenishment operation in the Adriatic Sea with the guided missile cruiser USS GETTYSBURG and the dock landing ship USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44). A Navy photograph documents all three vessels during the operation, with a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 flying nearby. The operation took place while American naval forces were supporting international measures connected with the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Captain Edward J. Fahy, Jr., relieved Captain Lundahl on March 5, 1993.

On March 9, 1993, USS KALAMAZOO replenished the guided missile frigate USS DE WERT (FFG 45), which was approaching the eastern Mediterranean during its passage toward the Suez Canal. The frigate had departed Rota, Spain, on February 28 and subsequently visited Almeria before continuing eastward with USS PETERSON (DD 969). Following the replenishment by USS KALAMAZOO, USS DE WERT proceeded to Port Said, Egypt, where it anchored on March 11 before transiting the canal on March 12. The frigate continued toward the Persian Gulf for operations under United States Naval Forces Central Command. USS KALAMAZOO's replenishment formed part of the logistical support provided to ships moving between the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Southwest Asian operating areas.

During March, USS KALAMAZOO also supplied amphibious vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea. On March 13, she replenished USS GUNSTON HALL, transferring fuel and additional cargo by helicopter. USS GUNSTON HALL was operating in support of the international mission in the former Yugoslavia and had been conducting activities in the Gulf of Manfredonia, Italy. Another replenishment of USS GUNSTON HALL by USS KALAMAZOO took place on March 18. The operations enabled the amphibious ship to continue its assignment without leaving the Adriatic operating area. USS KALAMAZOO also replenished USS AUSTIN during the same deployment, including connected and vertical replenishment operations conducted while the amphibious ship was operating around the Gulf of Manfredonia. On some occasions, USS KALAMAZOO coordinated with USS SAN DIEGO, allowing the participating amphibious vessels to receive fuel and other stores through different replenishment methods. The operations supported the American naval presence during the Bosnian conflict while NATO and United Nations forces continued their efforts to enforce international sanctions and deliver humanitarian assistance.

USS KALAMAZOO's Mediterranean deployment concluded during the spring of 1993, and she returned to Atlantic Fleet duties. During the following months, the ship continued participating in fleet readiness exercises and replenishment training. On June 23, 1993, she conducted an underway replenishment with USS SARATOGA in the Atlantic Ocean. Navy photographs taken during the operation show the aircraft carrier alongside USS KALAMAZOO while receiving supplies. The replenishment formed part of the training and support activities required to maintain the carrier's operational readiness. USS KALAMAZOO subsequently continued Atlantic Fleet operations through the remainder of the year, including maintenance, engineering training and replenishment exercises.

During the opening months of 1994, USS KALAMAZOO prepared for another extended overseas deployment. In February, the ship completed an intensive training period at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where her crew underwent exercises and evaluations intended to prepare the replenishment oiler for operational assignments. Following the training period, USS KALAMAZOO visited Montego Bay, Jamaica. The visit was documented in the July 1994 issue of the Navy's All Hands magazine, which included photographs of the ship at anchor and of crew members during the port visit. The call provided a period ashore following the demanding training schedule in Cuban waters. USS KALAMAZOO subsequently returned to the preparations required for another Mediterranean and Middle East deployment.

The ship departed in May 1994 for operations involving the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. The deployment took place while American naval forces were continuing the enforcement of United Nations resolutions concerning Iraq and while international military operations remained active in the former Yugoslavia. USS KALAMAZOO supported Sixth Fleet vessels operating in the Mediterranean before proceeding toward the Middle East. The passage through the Suez Canal provided access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, where American warships continued maintaining a presence in support of regional security operations.

Captain Rocklun A. Deal relieved Captain Fahy on August 28, 1994, while USS KALAMAZOO was transiting the Suez Canal. The change of command took place during a deployment that included two separate operating periods in the Persian Gulf. USS KALAMAZOO supplied American naval forces engaged in maritime security duties and operations associated with the continuing enforcement of restrictions on Iraq. The first operating period was followed by further movements between the Gulf, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean.

During the autumn, renewed Iraqi military activity near Kuwait prompted an additional American response. Iraqi forces had been moving toward Kuwait's northern frontier, leading the United States to deploy additional naval, air and ground forces under Operation Vigilant Warrior. USS KALAMAZOO was ordered to return rapidly to the Persian Gulf area to support the reinforced American naval presence. This became the second Persian Gulf operating period of the deployment.

During the October 1994 crisis, USS KALAMAZOO continued supplying American ships involved in the deployment while American and coalition forces monitored Iraqi military movements. The operation was intended to deter renewed aggression against Kuwait and to demonstrate the ability to reinforce the region rapidly. The immediate crisis eased after Iraq began withdrawing its forward-deployed forces, although American naval operations and the enforcement of international restrictions continued. USS KALAMAZOO subsequently returned through the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean toward the Atlantic, completing her overseas deployment in November 1994.

Following her return, USS KALAMAZOO resumed Atlantic Fleet maintenance and training. During 1995, the ship continued to operate from Norfolk, supporting surface combatants, amphibious forces and other naval vessels preparing for overseas assignments. Her operating schedule included replenishment exercises and participation in multinational training. Under Captain Deal, the ship also took part in the opening stages of UNITAS 36-95, the annual series of combined naval exercises conducted by the United States and South American countries. The program was intended to improve cooperation and interoperability among participating navies and involved operations in the Caribbean and along the coasts of South America.

During July 1995, USS KALAMAZOO operated with the UNITAS task force in the Caribbean. The American formation included USS COMTE DE GRASSE, USS FAHRION (FFG 22), USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) and other participating vessels. The exercises involved tactical maneuvering, communications, underway replenishment, amphibious operations and exchanges of personnel between American and South American naval units. USS KALAMAZOO provided replenishment support during the movements of the task force between operating areas and ports.

On July 21, 1995, USS KALAMAZOO joined USS ASHLAND and other units of the task force during the passage toward La Guaira, Venezuela, and conducted an underway replenishment with the dock landing ship. The force subsequently visited La Guaira from July 22 through July 24. During the visit, a USS KALAMAZOO sailor encountered difficulty while swimming at a local beach and was rescued by a sailor from USS ASHLAND. The rescuer subsequently received the Navy Achievement Medal for his actions. The visit formed part of the first phase of UNITAS 36-95 and was followed by additional exercises in Venezuelan waters.

On July 26, 1995, USS KALAMAZOO again replenished USS ASHLAND during the movement toward Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. The participating vessels conducted tactical maneuvering and training exercises while preparing for the next phase of the operation. During the first days of August, the task force moved from Venezuelan waters toward Colombia. USS KALAMAZOO replenished USS ASHLAND on August 3 and again on August 5. The operations took place during the second phase of UNITAS 36-95, which included exercises with Colombian naval and air forces in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific approaches. USS KALAMAZOO supplied fuel and stores to participating American vessels while they carried out the assigned training missions. The Colombian phase included combined naval operations, communications exercises and air-defense training involving American and Colombian units. USS KALAMAZOO detached from the UNITAS task force on August 10, 1995, concluding her participation in the early stages of the multinational deployment.

During August 1995, USS KALAMAZOO also supported advanced training by American surface combatants preparing for overseas deployment. The guided missile frigate USS ELROD (FFG 55) conducted an underway replenishment with USS KALAMAZOO during Middle East Force Exercise 4-95. The exercise included surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, air-defense and replenishment training for ships preparing for a six-month overseas assignment. USS ELROD completed the exercise and returned to Norfolk on August 25. USS KALAMAZOO's participation provided replenishment training for the frigate and other ships involved in the exercise.

Captain Joseph P. Avveduti, Jr., relieved Captain Deal on September 29, 1995, becoming USS KALAMAZOO's final commanding officer. During the remainder of the year, the replenishment oiler continued Atlantic Fleet support assignments and began approaching the end of her commissioned service. The United States Navy was continuing a substantial reduction in the size of its fleet following the Cold War, and older replenishment oilers were being withdrawn as newer ships and vessels operated by the Military Sealift Command assumed a greater share of fleet logistics responsibilities. USS KALAMAZOO nevertheless remained operational during the early months of 1996 and continued supporting ships preparing for deployment.

On March 26, 1996, USS KALAMAZOO was photographed at sea from the guided missile cruiser USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG 51) during Atlantic Fleet operations. The photograph documents the replenishment oiler's continuing service only a few months before her scheduled retirement. During the spring and summer, the ship completed her remaining training and support assignments while preparations proceeded for decommissioning. Personnel and equipment were transferred or prepared for removal, and the crew carried out the administrative and material procedures required to place the ship in inactive status. By this time, USS KALAMAZOO had served for almost 23 years.

USS KALAMAZOO was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on August 16, 1996, with Captain Joseph P. Avveduti, Jr., as her final commanding officer. USS KALAMAZOO's recorded decorations included the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Navy Battle Efficiency Awards, Navy Expeditionary Service Medal with qualifying service in the Indian Ocean and off Lebanon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three campaign stars and a Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation.

Following decommissioning, KALAMAZOO was placed in inactive status while the Navy determined her eventual disposition. On October 29, 1998, she was formally stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. On November 1, 1998, the ship was placed in storage at the Intermediate Ship Maintenance Facility at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Pennsylvania. The facility was being used to hold decommissioned naval vessels following the closure of the shipyard's principal repair and construction activities. KALAMAZOO remained at Philadelphia until August 2, 2000, when she was taken under tow for transfer to the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

On August 3, 2000, the former replenishment oiler arrived at the James River Reserve Fleet anchorage near Fort Eustis, Virginia. The anchorage was administered by the United States Maritime Administration and provided storage for government-owned vessels no longer in regular service. KALAMAZOO was placed among other inactive vessels awaiting decisions on possible retention or disposal. On February 24, 2001, title to the ship was formally transferred to the Maritime Administration. The former Navy vessel remained in the James River Reserve Fleet for several more years while the agency continued its program of evaluating and disposing of obsolete ships.

On July 15, 2008, the former USS KALAMAZOO was sold for scrapping to ESCO Marine of Brownsville, Texas, for $1,465,726. The disposal formed part of the Maritime Administration's continuing program to remove obsolete vessels from the reserve fleet and transfer them to approved ship-recycling facilities. On September 30, 2008, the former replenishment oiler was withdrawn from the James River Reserve Fleet and began her final voyage under tow to Brownsville. She arrived at the ESCO Marine facility on October 10, 2008, where preparations began for dismantling. The ship was subsequently broken up.

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USS KALAMAZOO Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by Michael Martin and shows the KALAMAZOO at Esco Marine, Brownsville, Tx., ready to be scrapped. The photo was taken on December 26, 2008

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