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GENERAL C. G. MORTON
AP 138
Named for Maj Gen Charles Gould Morton, Class of 1883, USMA, who served in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War and later on the Texas border. Modified for peacetime troopship use between 17 May and Aug 1946. |
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THE STORY OF THE
U. S. NAVAL SHIP GENERAL C. G. MORTON
The USNS GENERAL C. G. MORTON, operated by the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service, was built in 1944 by Kaiser Co. Inc., Richmond, California, and was names in honor of Major General Charles Gould Morton who served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.
Following construction the Morton operated from the West Coast as a troop transport and reached ports at Honolulu, Espiritu Santo, Russell Islands, Manus Island, Noumea, Melbourne, Calcutta, Ulithi, Tinian Island, Saipan, Hollandia, Leyte, Guadalcanal, Finschhafen, Manila, Karachi, Singapore, and Colombo. During a brief operation in the Atlantic she stopped at New York, Boston, and Marseilles.
When the Military Sea Transportation Service was set up under the Navy, the Morton was among the many transports turned over to MSTS in March 1950. Her recent runs have taken her to Honolulu, Kwajalein, Einweitok, Guam, Manila, Subic Bay, and Yokohama.
During the conflict in Korea the Morton carried thousands of United Nations troops between the West Coast and the Far East, and between ports in Japan and Korea. The Morton has figured in several dramatic sea rescues, one of which brought a silver cup award from the Swedish government for assisting in saving the lives of seaman aboard a stricken Swedish motor ship in the western Pacific in February, 1951.
A C-4 type ship, the Morton is 523 feet long, 72 feet wide, has a gross weight of 13,000 tons, and a cruising speed of 17 knots. She is equipped with a hospital, two stores, complete galleys, a library, modern navigational devices and life saving gear. Her up-to-date facilities enable all to follow recreational, religious and educational pursuits while at sea.
Crew members of the Morton are civil service employees and members of the military department are personal of the U. S. Navy.
| The booklet which contained all the wonderful pictures and text seen on this page was provided by Paul "Steve" Poppino.
Steve attended the Nasugbu Beach elemetary school system in Yokohama as a military dependent in 1954-55 and again in 1957-59.
Steve is shown in his "quarters" in Area 1. Note "steam heat". Lower picture is at quarters # 64 A. Steve can be reached at: |
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