USS PONCHATOULA A0-148

• Namesake: USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) was named after Ponchatoula, a city in Louisiana, continuing the tradition of naming oilers after rivers or cities with Native American origins. • Class and Type: She was a Neosho-class fleet oiler, designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel, oil, and supplies to US Navy ships at sea. • Commissioning: Ponchatoula was commissioned on 12 January 1956, at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. • Vietnam War Service: The ship played a crucial logistical role during the Vietnam War, supplying fuel and materials to the 7th Fleet and supporting combat operations off the Vietnamese coast. • Operation "Sea Orbit": In 1964, Ponchatoula supported the historic "Operation Sea Orbit," the first circumnavigation of the globe by a nuclear-powered task force, providing vital replenishment at sea. • Apollo Space Mission Support: She participated in recovery operations for Apollo space missions, serving as a backup recovery vessel and supporting NASA’s objectives. • Unique Record: In the mid-1960s, Ponchatoula set a record for the number of simultaneous alongside replenishments, refueling seven ships at once. • Decommissioning and Fate: Ponchatoula was decommissioned on 17 August 1992 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. She was later disposed of by the Navy. • Battle Stars: The ship earned 13 battle stars for her service during the Vietnam War, highlighting her extensive and hazardous support missions. • Crew Legacy: Many crew members fondly recall the ship’s mascot, a large wooden pelican, which symbolized the vessel’s Louisiana heritage and was a point of pride during deployments.