{"product_id":"u-s-s-consolation-builders-plaque-converted-by-bethlehem-steel-co-shipbuilding-division-hoboken-yard-1945","title":"U.S.S. CONSOLATION Builder's Plaque Bethlehem Steel Co. \/ Shipbuilding Division \/ Hoboken Yard \/WW2  1945","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOne ship converter's \/ builder’s plaque from the USS Consolation (AH-15). The oval bronze plaque is embossed with lettering reading “U.S.S. CONSOLATION \/ CONVERTED BY \/ BETHLEHEM STEEL CO. \/ SHIPBUILDING DIVISION \/ HOBOKEN YARD \/ 1945”. The textured background has a dark, seasoned finish while the raised lettering and plain border feature a bright, metallic brass-bronze. There are four mounting holes located at the top and bottom centers and sides of the plaque, which is currently mounted on an oval wooden base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eUSS Consolation was commissioned on 22 May 1945. She was originally laid down as the SS Marine Walrus before being acquired by the United States Navy and designated as a Haven-class hospital ship. Most of her early deployment at the close of World War II was spent in the Pacific Theater, where she immediately aided in setting up shore screening stations and treating liberated Allied prisoners of war in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Bethlehem Steel Company Shipbuilding Division's Hoboken Yard played an instrumental, 24-hour-a-day role during World War II. Acquired by Bethlehem Steel in 1938, the historic site operated at peak wartime emergency capacity, employing over 20,000 workers. While Bethlehem Steel's massive network manufactured over 1,100 hulls during the conflict, the Hoboken Yard specialized heavily in highly complex ship repairs, fleet reconditioning, and crucial military conversions. Utilizing extensive pre-war merchant conversion experience, the Hoboken yard was tasked with rapidly transforming heavy commercial hulls and cargo vessels into life-saving naval auxiliaries and hospital ships—culminating in the completion and commissioning of the USS Consolation in May 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Consolation holds a historic distinction in naval and medical history for her service during the Korean War. On 18 December 1951, she participated in \"Operation Helicopter,\" during which she became \u003cstrong\u003ethe first hospital ship to successfully receive and treat a battle casualty flown directly from the battlefield via helicopter\u003c\/strong\u003e, revolutionizing military medical evacuation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eShe received 10 battle stars for her vital service during the Korean War. After being decommissioned in 1955, she was leased to the People-to-People Health Foundation in 1960 and renamed the SS Hope, serving for another 14 years as a civilian hospital ship bringing medical care to underdeveloped regions worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eSS \u003cem data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"eujQNb\"\u003eHOPE\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (Health Opportunity for People Everywhere) was the world's first peacetime hospital ship. Originally a U.S. Navy vessel, she was chartered by the non-profit organization Project HOPE in 1958 and sailed for 14 years, delivering medical care and training healthcare workers to underserved communities globally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 36px 0px 12px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-animation-nesting=\"\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" class=\"otQkpb\"\u003e⚓ Historical Profile: SS Hope \/ USS Consolation (AH-15)\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\" data-processed=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAAgIEAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eSS \u003cem data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"eujQNb\"\u003eHope\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (originally commissioned as the \u003cstrong data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eUSS \u003cem data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"eujQNb\"\u003eConsolation\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e) holds a monumental place in maritime and medical history. She served as both a decorated naval vessel that revolutionized battlefield evacuation during the Korean War and, later, as the \u003cstrong data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eworld's first peacetime hospital ship\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e dedicated to global humanitarian aid.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\" data-processed=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAAgIEAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\" data-processed=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAAgIEAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eTitle: Plaque, Builder's, USS Consolation (AH-15)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eCirca: 1945\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eSize: [Approx. 13x21]\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eMedium: Bronze \/ Brass\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003eMade in USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"bethlehem steel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50098242224365,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0296\/2338\/6250\/files\/Untitled8-1_dragged.png?v=1781227693","url":"https:\/\/thesteelbeam.com\/products\/u-s-s-consolation-builders-plaque-converted-by-bethlehem-steel-co-shipbuilding-division-hoboken-yard-1945","provider":"thesteelbeam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}