SS Red Oak Victory

red oak victory ship - richmond, california

Red Oak Victory News

12 February 2007: RICHMOND / Bringing a rust bucket back to seaworthiness / WWII cargo ship is being lovingly restored . . . - Story & photosin the Chronicle >>

30 January 2007: KPIX (Channel 5)'s "Eye on the Bay" features a segment on The Red Oak Victory as well as the O' Brien, Hornet, Pampanito, and Potomac.

12 November 2006: National Public Radio program on the Red Oak Victory - Details >>

30 October 2006: Front page story on the Red Oak's Volunteers! - Full Story >>

18 September 2006: The Onboard Museum is spruced up and gets it's own web page

17 September 2006: Book signing by Captain Walter Jaffee - Details >>

5 June 2006: June is a month-long raiding party for the salvage of valuable equipment from the Reserve Fleet

26 February 2006: The SS Red Oak Victory Ship's original radio transmitters were switched on! See the Details and the article in the West County Times >>

14 November 2005: Whirley Crane is now at Shipyard 3 - See details at www.rosietheriveter.org/whirleycrane.htm

28 April 2005: Lt. Col. Oliver North, USMC ret, onboard the ship filming "War Stories With Oliver North". The broadcast will highlight the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Homefront National Historical Park and include interviews of local "Rosies".
Photos by Jack Boise

28 February 2005: The Red Oak moves to Berth 6A - See Details and Photos

6 November 2004: 150 guests attend the 60th Anniversary of launching of the SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California.


Click on any of the above images to see larger versions

Photo of Mrs. Kaiser, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Hart, and Mr. Johnson.

The dignified lady in the yellow hat in the pictures above is Mrs. Henry J. Kaiser, Jr. She married Henry Jr. in 1944 in Southern California, then moved to Oakland when Henry Jr. became Vice President for Public Relations for Kaiser Industries. Also attending the event were Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson, Park Superintendent Judy Hart and Mayor James Johnson of Red Oak Iowa.

The distinguished guests in the picture immediately above are Lois Boyle, Edna Moeller (Matron of Honor - her grandmother was the original Matron of Honor) and Mrs Kaiser.

Below - Coming Home to Richmond - 20 September 1998
Photo taken from a biplane showing the wings and another biplane and the Red Oak Victory.
Photos courtesy of the Richmond Museum of History

"Henry J. Kaiser - Think Big" show at OMC
" I always have to dream up there against the stars.
If I don't dream I'll make it, I won't even get close."

September 16, 1998
Richmond to Honor Veteran Ship
Red Oak Victory cargo vessel returns home after 53 years
RICHMOND -- A 53-year-old veteran of three wars is finally coming home to Richmond.
The Red Oak Victory, a 455- foot-long cargo vessel, will receive a soldier's salute Sunday when the vessel docks at Terminal One near Ferry Point in Richmond. It is the same port from which the ship began its distinguished wartime career on Nov. 9, 1944. Built in the famed Richmond shipyards run by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser . . . . read the full story . . . .

September 21, 1998
Last Gray Veteran Recalls Glory Days in Richmond
RICHMOND -- Her body wears rust spots now.
The gray paint that looked fresh 53 years ago is chipped.
After seeing three wars, her battle scars are hard to hide. But when she sailed quietly into her home port of Richmond yesterday afternoon . . . .read the full story . . . .