postmarked Jan 9, 2022 at Findlay, Ohio. This 455' merchant cargo vessel

was converted into a US Navy cargo ship. She was one of a large group

of Victory Ships named for American Cities. This ship was launched on

November 9, 1944 by Permanente Metals Corp at Richmond, California

and named for the City of Red Oak, Iowa. The Navy commissioned the ammunition

ship on 5 December 1944 and ordered her to the Western Pacific.

The ship transported munitions to various fleet ships until the war's end.

The vessel returned to San Francisco and was decommissioned on 21 May 1946.

She carried commercial cargo after the war and military cargo to Vietnam and Asia in the 1960s.

Laid-up in 1968 she was rescued in 1998 to become a museum ship in Richmond, California

associated with the Rosie the Riveter Museum.

 Color printed photo cachet #2991 of towed Victory ship in SF Bay by Alvin Eckert,

#9964 USCS. Cover franked with 15 cent Vietnam Campaign Ribbon stamp # 1802 and 58 cent

American Flag stamp #5657 (FDOI). Seller has covers for all the Allied Nations,

US Colleges, and US Cities or Towns with like named Victory Ships. Check out my other items! 

These items make a fine gift when mounted on a colored matte

and placed in a 5x7 picture frame.   Free US Shipping!