USS Guadalupe first found in USS Helena CL-50 War Diary for 31 August 1942,

The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Guadalupe (AO-32) refuels the destroyer USS Maury (DD-401) and the aircraft carrier
USS Lexington (CV-16) at sea in the Gilbert Islands area, 25 November 1943.
Note the 1.1"/75 caliber anti-aircraft gun (28 mm) aboard Guadalupe.

USS Guadalupe (AO-32) Awards

USS Guadalupe (AO-32), a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler that served in the United States Navy,
it was named for the Guadalupe River in Texas.

Guadalupe was launched as SS Esso Raleigh 26 January 1940 by the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Dry Dock Company at Newport News, Virginia; sponsored by Mrs. W. L. Inslee, wife of the late manager of the
Traffic Division, Marine Department, Standard Oil of New Jersey; taken over by the Maritime Commission as
MC Hull #12; acquired by the Navy 1 June 1941; and commissioned 19 June 1941,
Commander Harry R. Thurber in command.

Six weeks of coastwise voyages carrying oil from Texas to New Jersey ended 16 August as Guadalupe
docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Receiving as deck cargo six PT boats later to form the famous squadron
commanded by Lieutenant Commander John D. Bulkeley, Guadalupe sailed for the Western Pacific
on 19 August. After discharging cargo and oil at Pearl Harbor, Manila, and Cavite, the tanker returned to Norfolk,
Virginia 13 November via San Diego. After America's sudden plunge into war, she put into Baltimore to be fitted with guns.

In January 1942 Guadalupe sailed to the Pacific, where she was to participate in virtually every major campaign
of the long and bloody war. After months of developing and refining techniques for refueling at sea, a science then in
its infancy, Guadalupe sailed from Pearl Harbor 2 June 1942 to refuel American ships participating in the momentous
Battle of Midway,5 June 1942: 550 miles E of Midway. About 0400 (I), I-156 sights fleet oiler USS GUADALUPE (AO-32)
escorted by two destroyers but fails to reach a favorable firing position. Except for I-168, I-156 is the only submarine that makes
a contact with the Americans during the battle. the first naval defeat inflicted on the Japanese in 350 years. From Midway Atoll
Guadalupe sailed north to spend the rest of the summer supporting American forces in the Attu campaign.

As the United States launched its first offensive effort in the Pacific, Guadalupe sailed south to spend the final four
months of 1942 fueling warships operating in and around Guadalcanal. The first half of 1943 saw her in overhaul in the
United States and operating in the Aleutians, with two shuttle trips to Pearl Harbor with fuel and planes. Departing Pearl
22 August Guadalupe sailed to the central Pacific to support the Gilbert Islands campaign, working with such famous
fighting ships as Essex, Independence, Washington, Enterprise, Lexington, and Yorktown.