USS Kerstin (AF-34)

USS Kerstin (AF-34) was an Adria-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas.

Kerstin was launched 16 July 1944 by Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, Texas, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. B. Towns; acquired by the Navy 22 January 1945; and commissioned 23 February 1945 at Houston, Texas, Lt. H. C. Prichard in command.

World War II service
Departing Galveston, Texas, 14 March, Kerstin loaded cargo at Mobile, Alabama, and arrived Pearl Harbor 14 April. Assigned to Service Squadron 8, she took on board 1,680 tons of refrigerated and dry provisions and sailed 20 April, reaching Eniwetok 2 May. For more than 6 months she made supply runs, transporting frozen food to ships and bases at Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Ulithi, Manus, Nouméa, and Auckland, New Zealand.

Rescuing airman in a splashed B-29
While steaming from Saipan to Iwo Jima 13 July, she directed the prompt rescue of nine men from a disabled B-29 bomber, which splashed about 2 miles off her port quarter while returning to Tinian after a raid over Tokyo. Before departing Saipan 29 November for her return to the United States, Kerstin had travel led more than 26,000 miles and delivered over 5,500 tons of refrigerated cargo.

Post-war activity
Arriving San Pedro, California, 20 December, Kerstin again deployed to the Pacific Ocean, 1 January 1946, to transport provision to Wake Island, Tarawa, Samoa, and the Marshalls before returning to San Francisco, California, 24 May. Departing 29 June for cargo operations in the Far East, Kerstin made 11 voyages to the Pacific between June 1946 and December 1949. Steaming to bases scattered throughout the Pacific, her deployments included four runs to the Far East, three to the Marianas and the Marshalls, and four to Pearl Harbor.

Post-war decommissioning
Departing Manila Bay 25 November 1949, Kerstin steamed via Guam en route to San Francisco, where she arrived 22 December. After overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard, she decommissioned 12 May 1950 and transferred to the Maritime Commission. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 16 June. She was placed in the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet, berthed at Suisun Bay, California and struck from the Naval Vessel Register, 16 June 1950. Final disposition: scrapped (date unknown).

Military awards and honors
Kerstin's crew was eligible for the following medals:
 * American Campaign Medal
 * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
 * World War II Victory Medal
 * Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp)