USS JASON ARH-1/AR-8 (THE "JOLLY J")
51 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE 1944-1995
 
Displacement 9,430 t.(lt), 17,000 t.(fl)
Length 530'; Beam 73' 4": Draft 26' (max)
Speed 19.2kts
Complement 1,297
Armament four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, eight 40mm guns
Propulsion, four boilers,two steam turbines, two propeller shafts, 11,000shp
 
Laid down, 9 March 1942 at L. A. Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., San Pedro, CA
Commissioned USS Jason (ARH-1), 19 June 1944
Redesignated Repair Ship (AR-8), 9 September 1957
Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 24 June 1995
Transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benica, CA
 
Click Thumbs to View The Full-sized Images
The Captain's Gig and officer's motorboat. (Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)
Where the heck are we?
A nice view of the "Jolly J".In San Diego October 1994. (Photo courtesy of Dale C.Haskin)
A great flyover shot of the "J".
The 50th anniversary Jason ballcap. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to get details on how to buy this cap and other Jason goodies.
The Captain's Gig. (Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)The USS Ajax AR-6 relieving the "J" at Sasebo in the early '50s. (Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)
The "J" in a Sasebo fog. (Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)Drydock in Yokosuka. (Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)
The "J" wearing her camouflage paint during WWII.The USS Missouri BB-63 as seen from the "J" in Sasebo.(Photo courtesy of Ronie Mooney ENCS-RET)
Another view of her camouflage scheme. (Photo courtesy of Clyde Tracy)At Diego Garcia in 1988.
Beautiful view of our beauty. (Photo courtesy of Clyde Tracy)
The old gal is looking good here!
The "J" docked in Sasebo, early '50s. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Werner FP2)The "J" at the 28th St. Landing San Diego 1953. (Photo courtesy of Charlie Werner FP2)
The Jason in drydock in San Diego in 1969. (Photo courtesy of John Conley, HT2) Another interesting view of the "J" in drydock. (Photo courtesy of John Conley, HT2)
A couple of unhappy "J" sailors standing a "mail buoy" watch. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) The USS Ajax AR-6 arriving in Sasebo, Japan to relieve the "J" in early 1973. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
Leaving Sasebo. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) The shipyard at Sasebo. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
The Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) Another view of the Sasebo shipyard. The "J" is down there somewhere. Can you spot her? (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
View of the harbor in Keelung, Taiwan in early '70s. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) View of the 32nd St. Naval base in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
Jason near the Coronado Bridge. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) A dive boat between the "J" and the USS Ajax AR-6. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
A view of a destroyer nested with the "J" at the ammo pier in Subic Bay. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) The "J" as seen on a postcard. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
A sailor catching some zzzs in Larry's berthing area. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) Nice shot of the "J" in San Diego in the early '70s. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
View from the "J" in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) Another great shot of the "J" in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
Fine view of the "J" at the ammo pier in Pearl. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) Raising the Captain's gig before getting underway from Sasebo. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
The "J" in San Diego in early 1972. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) A great head-on shot of the "J". (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
Another view of the base at 32nd St. (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN) A view from the "J". (Photo courtesy of Larry McLendon, MRFN)
 

The following great photos are courtesy of Lenny Green EN3. Lenny was a proud crew member of the "Jolly J" from 1957 to 1961 and he worked in the Boat Shop. While Lenny was aboard the "J" he was part of a small band called The Silver Strands. Lenny played lead guitar, Dave Wilson played the drums and Art Eastlick was on rhythm guitar. These guys played up a storm at many gigs around the San Diego area. After the boys left the Navy, the name of the group changed to The Thundernotes and they continued to gain in popularity in the area. Soon after that, Lenny left the group to pursue a career in country music. Lenny was and still is a talented and accomplished songwriter and has been nominated for a CMA award. After Lenny's departure, the group changed it's name to The Cascades. They recorded a song called "Rhythm of the Rain" which became a worldwide monster hit and would soon became part of rock legend.

My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Lenny for providing us with his great Jason photos. It's very much appreciated by me and all other fellow Jason sailors. I also congratulate Lenny on his post Navy music career and his fine contributions to the music world. Well done, Jason sailor, well done!

 

To check out Lenny's fine website, click on the following link:

LENNY GREEN

 

For the complete story of The Cascades, click on the following link:

STORY OF THE CASCADES

 

If any of Lenny's shipmates would like to contact him and talk over old times, here is his e-mail address:

nusong@vfr.net

 

One of t he mighty 5" guns on the Jason!Looks like the Special Sea and Anchor Detail has been set!
 
The Officer's Gig giving the boys of The Silver Strand a ride at Hiroshima Japan sometime in 1957- 1958.Some Jason boys in 4th of July parade in Monterey, CA in 1958.
 
Boys of the Boat Engine Repair Shop crew...L to R; Cloy, Wiggins, Hilman, Hair, Russell, LennyGreen. 1957-58.Getting refueled sometime in the late 1950s.
 
Jason boys catching some rays on the way to WestPac 1957-58.Lenny with a couple of lovely ladies by the name of Maralyn and Linda. Lucky Lenny!
 
Lenny posing with country singing superstar Ray Price and an unknown purty lady.The boys putting on a show for dependents in the Machine Shop. Lenny is playing in the lower left of the photo.
 
Having a hot poker game in the Ice Shop. On a sailor's pay, the stakes couldn't have been too high, ha ha.The Silver Strand band in their costumes. Don't them boys look sharp? Lenny is 2nd from the right.
 
The Thundernotes in all their glory. From L to R: Dave Wilson, Lenny Green and Art Eastlick.

Here's how to get that great 50th anniversary Jason ball cap pictured above for yourself. Send a check or money order for $25 ( $20 for the cap and $5 for shipping and handling ) to the following address:

CLYDE F. TRACY
103 MUSCADINE DRIVE
SENATOBIA. MS., 38668
PHONE 602 560 8667

Clyde will then ship one out to you pronto. If you have a question, e-mail Clyde at this address:

ussjason@yahoo.com

Clyde also has a couple of other Jason ball caps and many other Jason goodies for sale at his Jason Ship's Store. Check 'em out at:

CLYDE'S JASON SHIP'S STORE