USS Vega

A Rigel-class stores ship, the USS Vega (AF-59) was laid down on June 7, 1954, and launched on April 28, 1955. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Theodore C. Lonnquest and commissioned on November 10, 1955. It is the third ship to be named Vega. Off the coast of Vietnam, the USS Vega participated in Fleet operation from October 1964 to January 1965. The ship returned to the United States in February 1965. By the late Spring, the USS Vega was back patrolling the Vietnamese waters supporting the 7th Fleet units. USS Vega conducted 125 underway and 26 in port replenishments. This number of replenishments was more than any other deployment. The ship visited Danang and An Thoi, Vietnam as well as the first time in Singapore. In 1971, the supply ship conducted two operations in the sea lanes off Vietnam. Over 100 tons of food were transferred to troops on the ground during some of the worst weather conditions. USS Vega was involved in the evacuation of Cambodian refugees, supporting the task group with replenishment operations. The ship was decommissioned on April 29, 1977.
This week we salute William “Bill” Zard. Bill served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He is originally from South Dakota but has been a Rosebud County resident for many years. He went to basic training in San Diego, California. Bill served on a supply ship, the USS. Vega, located in the waters of Vietnam. His ship was based out of Yokosuka Japan. Bill has 5 children and a granddaughter who recently completed her studies and is now a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, operating out of Miles City.