USS Jason (AR-8)

• World War II Service: USS Jason (AR-8) was a Vulcan-class repair ship commissioned in 1944 and played a vital role in repairing and maintaining U.S. Navy vessels in the Pacific Theater during World War II. • Namesake: The ship was named after Jason, the mythological Greek hero and leader of the Argonauts, symbolizing her role in aiding and supporting other ships. • Battle Stars: Jason earned five battle stars for her service during World War II, recognizing her significant contributions in multiple campaigns. • Korean War Support: During the Korean War, Jason provided crucial repair services at Sasebo, Japan, and in Korean waters, enabling damaged vessels to quickly return to action. • Vietnam War Activity: Jason was present during the Vietnam War, offering repair and maintenance for ships engaged in combat and operations off the Vietnamese coast. • Longest-Serving AR: USS Jason held the distinction of being the longest-serving repair ship (AR) in U.S. Navy history, with a career spanning nearly five decades (1944–1995). • Women Aboard: In the 1970s, Jason became one of the first Navy ships to have women as part of the crew, reflecting the changing demographics and policies of the U.S. Navy. • Support in the Gulf War: Jason was deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990–1991, where she provided repair services to coalition ships. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat operations, Jason participated in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations in the Pacific. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Jason was decommissioned on June 24, 1995, after 51 years of service. She was later scrapped, marking the end of an era for the Vulcan-class repair ships.