History USS Camden (AOE-2)

uss camden refueling uss chicago (cg-11) during vietnam war.

camden commissioned 1 april 1967 second of 4 vessels in class. 542nd , final contract in 68-year history of new york shipbuilding, , last vessel completed , launched @ shipyard. assigned pacific fleet in september 1967 , homeported in long beach, california. accomplishments during first deployment westpac in 1968-1969, crew awarded meritorious unit commendation.

in august 1974, camden moved new homeport of bremerton, washington. ship operated extensively , down west coast of united states , deployed western pacific , indian oceans support units of seventh fleet.

in 1980, camden moved again homeport of bremerton, washington overhaul.

on 20 july 1983 new york times reported camden along 7 other vessels in carrier ranger battle group left san diego on friday 15 july 1983 , headed western pacific when rerouted , ordered steam central america conduct training , flight operations in areas off coasts of nicaragua, el salvador , honduras part of major military exercises planned summer.

the battle group comprised carrier ranger, cruiser horne, guided missile destroyer lynde mccormick, destroyers fletcher , fife, frigate marvin shields, oiler wichita , support ship camden.

on 17 may 1987 uss camden redirected assist uss stark after attacked unfriendly fire. uss camden s job unload of weapons on board stark in case of further attack.

on 15 august 1991 4 airmen helicopter combat support squadron 11 (hc-11 gunbearers ) missing , presumed dead after helicopter crashed while resupplying ships in pacific ocean near wake island, navy announced. crewmen of ill-fated ch-46 sea knight identified lt. eric w. allison, 26, of coronado; lt. (j.g.) kenneth d. pickens, 24, of clairemont; airman william a. jackson, 20, of san diego, , petty officer 1st class johnny l. caulder jr., 28, of spring valley. sea knight, operating fast combat support ship camden, crashed wednesday; search efforts abandoned 24 hours later, said lt. ken ross, spokesman u.s. pacific fleet. cause of accident, occurred 100 miles east of wake island, under investigation, ross said. investigators @ recorded radio transmissions helicopter , interview ship crewmen witnessed crash. 2 ships close when aircraft dropped water, said. 2 helicopters launched air search, , ships in area launched whaleboats assist in search. missing airmen members of helicopter combat support squadron 11 @ north island naval air station, said fred wilson, spokesman air station. camden deployed resupply aircraft carrier nimitz , support ships, returning u.s. duty in persian gulf. carrier battle group reached gulf region after operation desert storm. source: http://articles.latimes.com/1991-08-17/local/me-402_1_sea-knight

in march 1996, camden awarded third consecutive battle e demonstrating excellence in warfare , mission categories.

in 2004, camden won battle e again. final year of battle e eligibility sacramento-class fast combat support ship.

in january 2005, camden left on final deployment, eight-month world tour uss carl vinson escorting carrier new homeport in norfolk, virginia. camden decommissioned 14 october 2005 @ naval base kitsap, bremerton, washington, , disposed of scrapping @ esco marine, in brownsville, texas.