USNS Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK 3006)

- formerly SS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON, formerly SS TOMAS HEYWOOD -
- Military Sealift Command -

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Photo by Stefan Karpinski, taken in Middle East waters in 2003. Click to enlarge.

Built as commercial container ship TOMAS HEYWOOD in 1982, the ship was purchased by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in February 1983 and later entered the NASSCO shipyard for conversion to a maritime prepositioning ship. The conversion was finished in January 1985 and the ship entered service as SS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON becoming the first ship in the Navy named after US Marine Corps Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon.

The PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON is operated by the Waterman Steamship Co.

General Characteristics:	Delivered: November 1982
	Builder: Pennsylvania SB Company, Chester, Pa.
	Purchased by MARAD: February 1983
	Conversion yard: National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA
	Conversion started: January 1984
	Delivered: January 1985
	Propulsion system: Steam turbines, 2 boilers
	Propellers: one
	Length: 821.5 feet (250.4 meters)
	Beam: 105.6 feet (32.2 meters)
	Draft: 33.1 feet (10.1 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 48,750 tons full load
	Speed: 20 knots
	Aircraft: helicopter platform only
	Armament: none
	Capacity: 152,524 sq. ft. vehicle 1,544,000 gallons petroleum 94,780 gallons water 540 TEU
	Crew: 34 civilians, 10 technicians
	Homeport: not assigned

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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About the Ship's Name:

USNS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON is named in honor of US Marine Corps Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Seoul, Korea, on 26 September 1950.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Seoul, Korea, on 26 September 1950. While serving as an ammunition carrier of a machine-gun squad in a Marine Rifle Company which was temporarily pinned down by hostile fire, Private First Class Obregon observed a fellow Marine fall wounded in the line of fire. Armed with only a pistol, he unhesitatingly dashed from his covered position to the side of the casualty. Firing his pistol with one hand and, despite the great peril to himself, dragged him to the side of the road. Still under enemy fire, he was bandaging the man’s wounds when hostile troops of approximately platoon strength began advancing toward his position. Quickly seizing the wounded Marine’s carbine, he placed his own body as a shield in front of him and lay there firing accurately and effectively into the hostile group until he himself was fatally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire. By his courageous fighting spirit, fortitude and loyal devotion to duty, Private First Class Obregon enabled his fellow Marines to rescue the wounded man and aided essentially in repelling the attack, thereby sustaining and enhancing the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

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USNS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the USNS PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON at Norfolk, Va., on December 7, 2019.

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