USNS Gaffey
This week to celebrate my 50th year I decided to do some research on the ship we sailed on when I was almost three years old. My dad was in the navy so we took the U. Sl Naval Ship General Hugh J Gaffey from Hawaii to the main land. All our household goods were packed up, including our car. I was young enough that I’m not sure I remember anything but I have an image of a slide that I think was on the ship. But one of my sister’s remembers my mom buying us a sack of play dough that we played with on the ship instead of taking a nap. It took five days for us to reach Oakland, California. My other sister remembers a little lizard that hitched a ride in our car and we found it when we picked up our car in California.
I don’t have much information on the Gaffey but I know that there is lots of information on the internet about ships from researching for the Europe 1952 book. Typing “USNS Gaffey” brought up over 13,000 hits. It seems that this ship was originally named for Admiral W. L. Capps and then was renamed for General Hugh J. Gaffey.
A collection of photos taken on or of the Gaffey.
A bit of the history of this ship.
Here is a blog post on NASA’s sight about another military family sailing to Japan on the Gaffey.
This trip has been my only ocean voyage to date. Though I’m looking forward to a cruise to Alaska next year. I have an extravagant dream of sailing around the world in a leisurely fashion and spending time at lots of ports along the way. Has anyone else taken a ship like the Gaffey?
I and my family sailed on the Gaffney in 1954/5 between San Francisco to Yokohama, Japan. My father was stationed in Tokyo after serving in Korea. We lived in Japan for 1 yr stationed at Camp Drake. Can’t recall if we sailed on the Gaffney going to Japan or returning after a year. The other ship we sailed on was the USS Anderson. It was about 1 day trip approx. One of the ships (Gaffney or Anderson) had some 5 inch guns on it and I recall them practicing. The noise was unforgettable. I was born in 1947.
Sorry I am late to the party. My family was stationed at Subic Bay, P.I. from 1963-65. I was 7-9 y.o. Two sisters, one older, one younger. Coming back stateside in late June which had us crossing the Intl Dateline on July 4th. When we crossed the dateline, the day reverted ‘back’ to 7/4. Two Fourths of July! Arrived San Francisco 7/11 (?) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and passing Alcatraz. A 9 y.o. having the run of the whole ship! What memories!!
My great Uncle served on that ship. This article was in the local paper some time ago.
HONORED – Chief Boatswain’s Mate USN Louis S. Van Wey is shown receiving a citation from Rear Adm. J.W. Williams Jr. in March 1969. This took place shortly after Chief Van Wey’s ship, the USS Gaffey T.A.P. 106, a Navy transport, was rammed amid ship, Feb. 3, 1969 at Inchon, Korea by a by a Korean freighter. The quick action by Chief Van Wey resulted in the saving of at least a dozen lives. Chief Van Wey was later promoted to senior chief and retired in 1972, He resides with his wife, Sophie on West Lake road, Dunkirk. They have two children and six grandchildren. Chief Van Wey is a veteran of three wars – World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War
Cool! My dad was also a Boatswain’s Mate. I wonder if they ever crossed paths?