USS Kawishiwi AO-146

The "MIGHTY K" was first shown off with three house flags that flew proudly from the yardarm in 1960. These flags were a new addition to KAWISHIWI regalia, along with the new off-hours activity of creating a cruise book that established a cherished part of KAWISHIWI tradition.	Click image
Three Flags that flew from the yardarm in 1960
The 1966 flag on USS Kawishiwi AO-146 They also had a UNION Oil pump station
	The patch was created by Mike Smolinski date unknown
The KIWI Bird was picked in 1967 to be the Symbol Flag of USS Kawishiwi AO-146 The symbol was short lived A contest was held where the crew members submitted their ideas and a ship wide vote made the final selection. Looking at the symbol on a can of "Kiwi" shoe polish it was noticed that this the first four letters of "Kawishiwi" making as good as any symbol.	Click image to go to year book Some crew members used KIWI as a nickname for the ship even before the contest.
Then came the "SPECIAL K" "NON PARIEL" means "Having No Equal"
In 1969 Tim Barron SM3 and a cartoonist drew "Special K" for Cruise book cover of USS Kawishiwi AO-146 from a Kellogg's Cereal box. He also drew the ships crest View TIM'S Page
In 1970-71 The inscription "Special K" appeared on the Cruise book again for USS Kawishiwi AO-146 The Flag "Special K" also first appeared within the cruise book where a crew member was promoted to 2nd class with an undersized shirt ordered by the captain.