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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Derrick (YO-59)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service medal (with Asia clasp)

Derrick (YO-59) was transferred to South Korea

YO-55 Class Fuel Oil Barge (Non-self-propelled):

Built by RTC Shipbuilding Co., Camden, NJ (YN 142)

Laid down, 15 June 1942

Launched, 21 November 1942

Commissioned USS Derrick (YO-59), 02 February 1943, LT William W. Morphew, USNR, commanding

During World War II Derrick was assigned to Service Forces, Pacific Fleet

Mostly operated in New Guinea waters, 1943 - 1945

Postwar operated in Chinese waters, based at Shanghai, October 1945 - 1946

Decommissioned and placed in service, 17 June 1947

Assigned to the 14th Naval District, June 1949

Reallocated to Commander, Service Forces Pacific

Participated in operation "Passport to Freedom," 09 September to 19 November 1954

Placed out of service and leased to the Republic of Korea, 05 October 1955

Commisioned in Republic of Korean Navy as ROKS Baegyeon [백연] (YO-5), 14 October 1955

Renamed Hwacheon [화천], 06 December 1955

Renumbered AO-5, 1973

Renumbered AO-52, June 1978

Sold outright to South Korea, July 1975

Decommissioned, 30 July 1980

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 393 tons
Length 235' 0"
Beam 37'
Draft 15'
Speed 10 knots
Cargo Capacity 10,000 gallons
Complement unknown
Armament none
Propulsion diesel

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
141205901	74k	Derrick (YO-59), location unknown, 1944. Australian War Memorial photo AWM302583		John Chiquoine

Commanding Officers
01	LT William Washington Morphew, D-V(G) USNR	02 February 1943 - ????
02	LT William G. Brown, D-V(G) USNR	(March 1944)
03	LT Bruce Irwin Ifft, D-V(G) USNR	(September 1944)
04	LT(jg) Robert Stott Herrmann, D-V(G) USNR	(March 1945)
05	LT Robert Louis Royal, USN	(July 1945)
06	LT(jg) Samuel Wade Secrest, USNR	(January 1946)
07	LT Zaven Mukhalian, USNR	(July 1946)
07	ENS Robert Harold Lillevick, D-V(G) USNR	(October 1946)

View the Derrick (YO-59)
DANFS entry located at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 09 December 2022