USS Sanctuary (AH-17)

USS Sanctuary (AH-17) was a Haven-class hospital ship commissioned by the United States Navy in June 1945. Initially serving in the Pacific theater during the closing months of World War II, she provided vital medical support and care for wounded servicemen. Following the war, Sanctuary was decommissioned but later reactivated for service during the Vietnam War, where she rendered crucial medical and humanitarian assistance off the coast of Vietnam. The ship was notable for being the first Navy ship to have a mixed-gender crew, marking a significant milestone in naval history before her final decommissioning in 1975.