John G. Messer Oral History Interview

February 5, 1994
Oral History #OH0141
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Creator(s)
Lennon, Donald R.; Messer, John G.
Physical description
0.01 Cubic Feet, 2 audiotape, 1.75 hours, 38 pages
Preferred Citation
John G. Messer Oral History Interview (#OH0141), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Scope and arrangement

Captain "Jack" Messer, a native of Massachusetts, comments on his educational background prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1937. He describes his assignment to the USS MADISON (DD 425) and its participation in convoy duty in the North Atlantic until January 1943 and duty on the USS KIMBERLY (DD 521) during 1943 and 1944. Commentary on the KIMBERLY service includes involvement in shore bombardment of Tarawa and Makin islands in the South Pacific, repairs in San Francisco, and bombardment of Kurile Island in the Aleutians. Postwar assignments discussed include assignments to the Naval Mine Depot, CINCNELM staff in London, the torpedo office of the Underwater Ordnance Station, and OPNAV in Washington, as well as sea duty in the USS PHILIPPINE SEA, USS SOLEY, Destroyer Division 82, Carrier Division 14, and USS BELKNAP as commander of a destroyer squadron.

Administrative information
Source of acquisition

Gift of John G. Messer

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration
General note

1918-1960s

Key terms
Personal Names
Messer, John G.
Corporate Names
Madison (Destroyer)
United States Naval Academy--History
United States. Navy--Officers--Interviews
Topical
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Alaska
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Atlantic Ocean