View source for SGT ARCHER T GAMMON T-AK 243

<!-- How to edit this page:

For detailed information on editing this page, click the "How To Edit Pages" link 
in the navigation bar and look for the article on "Editing Ship Pages". If you 
run into trouble or need to do something a little more complicated, contact the 
Curator for help.

Don't forget to preview the page before saving it and please add a short description 
of the change in the Summary text box just above the Save / Show buttons at the bottom 
of the page. A short description would be something like "added naval covers".

-->
<!-- =================================== -->
<!-- Do not add anything above this line -->
<!-- =================================== -->
<h3>Ship Name and Designation History</h3>
This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during 
its lifetime.
The list is in chronological order.
<table width="90%">
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<ol>
Boulder Victory Class Cargo Ship<br/> 
Keel Laid December 13 1944 as "SS Yale Victory"<br/> 
Launched January 31 1945<br/> 
Delivered to the WSA February 24 1945<br/>
Acquired by the US Army Transportation Service June 18 1946<br/><br/> 
<li>'''USAT SGT. ARCHER T. GAMMON'''<br/>Commissioned October 31 1947<br/><br/> 
<li>'''USNS SGT. ARCHER T. GAMMON T-AK-243'''<br/>Acquired by the US Navy March 1 1950<br/>
Placed in service by MSTS March 1 1950<br/> 
Placed out of service early 1973<br/><br/> 
Struck from the Naval Register May 1 1973<br/> 
Custody transferred to MARAD November 9 1973<br/> 
Sold for scrapping November 9 1973
</ol></td>
<td align="center" width="220" valign="top">
<!-- [[Image:Name_Number_Crest.jpg|thumb|center|125px]] -->
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>

<h3>Naval Covers</h3>
This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the 
ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each name of the ship (for 
example, Bushnell AG-32 / Sumner AGS-5 are different names for the same 
ship so there should be one set of pages for Bushnell and one set for Sumner). 
Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't 
take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date 
range for covers on that page.
<ol>
<li><!-- [[PAGE_NAME_Covers_Page_1 | --> Covers Page 1 <!-- ]] -->&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1965)</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Postmarks</h3>
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a 
separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. Within each set, 
the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one 
postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of 
earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an 
image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN 
THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
<br/>&nbsp;<br/>
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the
existing example.
<!-- ====================================== -->
<!--  header - do not modify this section   -->
<!-- ====================================== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><th align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Postmark Type<br/>---<br/>Killer Bar Text
</th><th align="center" valign="center" width="100">
Date From<br/>to<br/>Date To</th>
<th align="center" width="320">Thumbnail Link To<br/>Postmark Image</th>
<th align="center" width="120">Thumbnail Link To<br/>Cover Image</th>
</tr></table>
<!-- ********************************************** -->
<!-- Postmarks from 1st Commissioning Period        -->
<!-- ********************************************** -->
<!--  this part is commented out unless / until needed
<hr/>
<h4>1st Commissioning (USAT) October 31 1947 to March 1 1950</h4>
-->
<!-- ********************************************** -->
<!-- Postmarks from 2nd Commissioning Period        -->
<!-- ********************************************** -->
<hr/>
<h4>2nd Commissioning (USN) March 1 1950 to 1973</h4>
<h4>No Postmarks Reported</h4>
<!-- ============== -->
<!-- 1965-09-00 -->
<!-- ============== -->
<br/>&nbsp;<br/><table width="95%" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="center" valign="center" width="140">
Army &<br/>Air Force<br/>Postal Service<br/>4-bar cancel
</td><td align="center" valign="center" width="100">
1965-09-00
</td><td align="center" width="320">
[[Image:GregCiesielski_SgtArcherTGammon_TAK243_19650900_1_Front.jpg|thumb|center|300px]]
</td><td align="center" width="120">
N/A
</td></tr></table>
1965 Arctic Operations R/S cachet
<!-- === End of Postmark Entry === -->

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Other Information</h3>
USNS ARCHER T. GAMMON earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal during her Naval career.<br/><br/>
'''NAMESAKE''' - Staff Sergeant Archer T. “John” Gammon, a native of Virginia, was serving with Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division, near Bastogne, Belgium, on 11 January 1945. On that day, he charged through hip-deep snow to demolish an enemy machine gun position and allow his platoon to advance from an open field to nearby woods. As the platoon started its advance, a machine gun supported by riflemen and a Tiger Royal tank opened fire on the unit. Sgt. Gammon rushed forward; cut across the width of his platoon's skirmish line; then, despite intense enemy fire, charged and silenced the automatic weapon and attacked the enemy tank. Advancing to within 25 yards of his objective, he put the enemy on the defensive and forced the tank back a short distance before he was struck and killed by a direct hit from the tank's heavy gun. For his action in clearing the way for his platoon, Sgt. Gammon was awarded, posthumously, the '''Medal of Honor'''. {DANFS}
<!-- =================================== -->
<!-- Do not add anything below this line -->
<!-- =================================== -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr/>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
If you have images or information to add to this page, then either 
[[Contact_Us | contact the Curator]] or edit this page yourself and add it. 
See [[Editing_Ship_Pages | Editing Ship Pages]] for detailed information on 
editing this page.
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<font size="-2">Copyright {{CURRENTYEAR}} Naval Cover Museum</font>