sailing from san diego 6 january 1942, "kaskaskia" commenced fueling operations en route before arriving pago pago 20 january. for the next six months she operated out of nom-a refueling the ships engaged in the violent struggle to stem the japanese advance. the oiler arrived kodiak, alaska, 3 july with a cargo of oil and fuel to be used in the aleutian islands campaign. she returned to wilmington, california, loaded oil and aviation gasoline and continued oil runs to alaskan ports until she steamed to nouméa late in march 1943. "kaskaskia" supplied many ships, increasing the mobility of the fleet during the successful campaigns in the south pacific.