Returning to the combat zone on 17 December, Wisconsin embarked United States Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan on 18 December. That day, the battleship supported the 11th ROK invasion with night illumination fire that enabled the ROK troops to repulse a North Korean assault with heavy enemy casualties.[5][6] Departing the "bombline" on 19 December, the battleship transferred Ferguson by helicopter to the carrier Valley Forge.[5]