The USS Vandalia (IX-191) was a steel-hulled, twin-screw tanker constructed in 1921 by the Federal Shipbuilding Company in Newark, New Jersey. Originally built for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, she served under commercial ownership through the 1920s and 1930s. In late 1944, the vessel was allocated to the U.S. Navy by the War Shipping Administration, renamed Vandalia on October 18, 1944, and designated as an unclassified miscellaneous vessel (IX-191). She was taken over by the Navy on December 23, 1944, and commissioned the same day at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During her service in World War II, Vandalia departed Pearl Harbor on February 27, 1945, en route to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, but encountered an engine casualty that forced her to return for repairs. She resumed her voyage in mid-March, heading to Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, where she served as a station tanker into the summer. In September, she shifted to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, functioning as a storage tanker. A notable event occurred on October 9, 1945, when Typhoon Louise struck Okinawa. Vandalia ran aground approximately 200 yards from Miyegusuku Lighthouse on Naha Island amid hurricane-force winds reaching 140 knots. The ship was battered by heavy seas, lost an engine, and quickly began to sink. The commanding officer, Lieutenant John F. Auge, ordered the crew to abandon ship. Remarkably, no casualties occurred during the sinking. Seaman Kermit S. Heistad and fellow crew members heroically assisted in saving many crew members during the storm, repeatedly risking their lives in perilous conditions, including black oil-covered waters and raging waves. Their efforts were widely recognized, though they did not receive formal medals. Following the storm, Vandalia was deemed beyond economical repair. A guard was stationed on her until November 20, 1945, when she was stripped of valuables and decommissioned. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on December 5, 1945, and subsequently sold for scrap to China Merchants and Engineers, Inc., on December 31, 1945. The ship’s service, especially her involvement during the typhoon and the heroism of her crew, highlights her maritime significance during wartime logistics and emergency response.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.