"spindle eye" was a relay radio ship for the atomic bomb tests bikini, operation crossroads, before conversion to an army passenger ship. the ship was one of several renamed by the army in 1947 for those awarded the medal of honor thus becoming "sgt. curtis f. shoup". "shoup" was laid up in the maritime administration's national defense reserve fleet in 1950 when the army fleet was being transferred to the navy or laid up.