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History of 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.

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ABOUT USS Sanctuary (AH-17)

  • Commissioned as a Hospital Ship: USS Sanctuary (AH-17) was commissioned on June 20, 1945, as a Haven-class hospital ship designed to provide medical care to wounded service members during and after World War II.
  • World War II Service: Although she entered service late in World War II, Sanctuary aided in the repatriation of Allied prisoners of war from the Pacific Theater, visiting locations such as Okinawa, Guam, and the Philippines.
  • Cold War Mothballing: After her initial service, Sanctuary was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve for nearly two decades, reflecting the fluctuating needs of the U.S. Navy during peacetime.
  • Vietnam War Reactivation: With increased demand for medical support in the Vietnam War, Sanctuary was recommissioned on November 15, 1966, and deployed to Southeast Asia to provide critical medical assistance to wounded troops.
  • First Gender-Integrated U.S. Navy Ship: In November 1972, USS Sanctuary became the first U.S. Navy ship to have a mixed-gender crew, with women serving as part of the permanent ship’s company, a significant milestone in Navy history.
  • Floating Hospital in Vietnam: Sanctuary’s medical staff treated over 3,500 battle casualties and performed more than 700 major operations during her Vietnam War service, offering care both to U.S. and South Vietnamese personnel.
  • Operation New Life: In 1975, Sanctuary participated in Operation New Life, providing medical care to thousands of Vietnamese refugees evacuated in the aftermath of the fall of Saigon.
  • Innovative Medical Technology: The ship was equipped with state-of-the-art (for the time) medical facilities, including X-ray machines, operating rooms, and a dental clinic, making her one of the most advanced hospital ships of her era.
  • Humanitarian Missions: Besides wartime service, Sanctuary also participated in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief and medical outreach programs in the Caribbean and Central America during the 1970s.
  • Final Fate: After decommissioning in 1975, Sanctuary was eventually sold for scrapping in 1989, but her legacy endures as a pioneer in naval medicine and gender integration.

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