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.
Gift of John G. Messer
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1918-1960s