The following are excerpts from e-mail exchanges between departing pilot Capt. Dan Larwood, the pilot who took HASSAYAMPA to sea on Friday, June 13, 2014, and Capt. Patrick Moloney. Capt. Moloney was the longest-running commanding officer of HASSAYAMPA, in addition to having commanded two of the other five 143 Neosho Class oilers, KAWISHIWI and PONCHATOULA.  Currently, Captain Moloney is master of the WW II Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien, which is stationed at Fisherman's Wharf located in San Francisco, California's historical fishing district.

Larwood: 
13 June 1553 Capt Dan Larwood, San Francisco Bar Pilots 
Just took your old ship to sea. Kind of sad seeing the Old Girl go off behind that little tugboat.
Dan 
  
  
Moloney: 
14 June 0545 
Hi Dan, 
Thanks for the heads up. Ed Melvin gave me a call Thurs night that she was on the list.
Our Oiler Assn has been monitoring her moves since moving to dry dock. I’m back east. Others are getting the pics. Glad in a way, I’m not there. Pat 
  
  
Larwood: 
14 June 1051 
Captain Moloney, if it makes you feel any better,... I put my hands on her bridge wing rails and I got an overwhelming sense of all the men that had been there before me and all the loving labor that had gone into building and running this lovely old lady. I certainly felt your nostalgic sadness as I left her decks and was the last man down the Jacob’s ladder. 
As the pilot boat pulled slowly away I watched her proceed out to cross her final bar into the 25 knots of NW’ly wind and I whispered farewell HASSAYAMPA, fair winds and following seas. 
Best regards and condolences, 
Dan Larwood 
  
  
Moloney: 
14 June 1424 
Thanks Dan, 
She was a special ship. The most decorated oiler in the navy. 
I’ll send your message to the HASS Assn and fwd a link to you. She was a beloved ship. 
Pat