U.S.S. Sacramento 1914 – 1942
The Galloping Ghost of the China Coast
Brought into service in 1914 to join the United States “Great White Fleet”, dubbed such for the sparkling white paint used on naval ships at the time, she was in service 28 years and two world wars. A 226-foot gleaming white steam gunboat with a crew of 160, she earned her many names and associations.
In Japan she was called the “Sacramento Moru”, and in Central America she was part of the “Banana Fleet.” In 1919, she served in Murmansk, Russia, aiding refugees of the Russian Revolution. She later continued in that service in Vladivostok, in 1922. In 1923, she delivered humanitarian aid to Yokohama, Japan after a great earthquake. Similar service was rendered to Managua, Nicaragua in 1930after another earthquake near that city. So frequent were her voyages in the western Pacific, the USS Sacramento was nicknamed “The Galloping Ghost of the China Coast.”
In 1941, December 7th at Pearl Harbor, she was award a “Battle Star” for her defensive efforts. The USS Sacramento’s final posting was in San Francisco in 1942 as a weather ship.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of Capital Mall and Front Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
