Robert Ritson

USS Haleakala (AE-25) was a Kilauea-class ammunition ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1968. Designed to transport and deliver ammunition to ships at sea, she played a vital logistical role during the Vietnam War, supporting U.S. naval operations in the Pacific. Throughout her service, Haleakala conducted numerous underway replenishments, ensuring combat ships remained supplied during extended deployments. The ship was decommissioned in 1993 after more than two decades of dedicated service, reflecting the Navy’s evolving logistical needs in the post-Cold War era.