 Among the noteworthy events that occurred that year was the ship's nomination to receive the Ney Award, recognizing the ship's outstanding food service mess, as the nominee of the Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet.After 28 years of continuous service to the Fleet (the last few years of which were spent along the eastern seaboard of the United States) "Yellowstone" was decommissioned on 11 September 1974.Struck from the Naval Vessel Register the next day and subsequently transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal, the veteran auxiliary was sold for scrapping in September 1975.