USS Ostara (AKA-33) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship named after the asteroid 343 Ostara, which in turn was named after the Teutonic goddess of spring, described by Jacob Grimm in his Deutsche Mythologie as equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon Eostre. USS Ostara served as a commissioned ship for 13 months. Ostara (AKA-33) was laid down 13 October 1944 by Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc., Providence, R.I. under a Maritime Commission Contract; launched 21 December 1944; sponsored by Ensign Rene Vandersloot, Navy Nurse; commissioned 31 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. Alfred St. Martin, USNR, in command.