Heavy brass p, she was christened Waterville Victory
Lt. George W. G. Boyce (T AK 251) was laid down as Waterville Victory under Maritime Commission contract by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 13 July 1945; launched 19 September 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Christine M. Roundy; and delivered to her operator, Parry Navigation Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 15 October 1945 as a World War II United States Merchant Navy ship.
She was acquired by the U.S. Army in 1946 as USAT Lt. George W. G. Boyce and served the Army until 1950 when she was acquired by the United States Navy during the start of the Korean War. After serving the Navy during the war and earning four battle stars, she continued serving the Navy's needs until 1973 when she was struck and subsequently scrapped.
U.S. Army service
Waterville Victory operated under the control of the War Shipping Administration until July 1946 when she was transferred to the Army Transportation Service and renamed USAT Lt. George W. G. Boyce. She was inactivated in February 1950 and entered the Maritime Commission Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.
Korean War service
Following the Communist invasion of South Korea in June 1950, Lt. George W. G. Boyce underwent reactivation. She was acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on 9 August and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS).
Crewed by civilians, she departed Seattle, Washington, 29 September and steamed to the Far East with military cargo. During much of the period in the Korean War, she bolstered the seaborne supply line between the United States and the Far East carrying supplies to ports in Japan, South Korea, Formosa, and Okinawa. In addition she supplied American bases in the Aleutian Islands.
Vietnam support
From 1964 Lt. George W. G. Boyce alternated supply runs to European and Middle Eastern ports with logistics deployments in support of America's growing commitment in South Vietnam. This role continued into 1969.
Cataloge, SKR: 0004030
