Association News
Attention, All Destroyer Veterans!
Shipmates -
Destroyermen have a right to be proud and be recognized for their service!
The service of Destroyermen (and women) has simply not been recognized for their service in two World Wars and various uprisings and incursions since. Various government agencies have recognized aviation, submarines, and various other service, not so for destroyers. Not only this, destroyers have long been referred to as "small boys" or escort ships or other almost insulting references. It does fairly have to be said that our Navy's own very senior flag officers started this "small boys" handle. We at Tin Can Sailors / DesVets think this has gone on long enough. Attached is a resolution that was duly written and filed in the US House of Representatives recognizing destroyer service and marking August and National Destroyer Remembrance Month each year.
The first US forces in Europe in World War I was a squadron of six US destroyers of Division 8, Destroyer Force that arrived in Ireland to help the Allies war effort. CDR Joseph K. Taussig was in command.
Attached is the recognition of the USS. Reuben James (DD-245) as the first ship sunk in World War II by the US Postal Service. She was lost 31 Oct 1941 to German torpedoes near Iceland. Given a crew of 144, only 44 were rescued. Ninety-three enlisted, and all seven officers were killed.
As you read the Resolution, please note the numbers of Presidential Unit Citations, Navy Unit Commendations, and Meritorious Unit Commendations. The (1969) Combat Action Ribbon has been backdated to 07 Dec 1941 and awarded to individual destroyers and destroyer squadrons. Remember when the then-new Fletcher-class began parting waves they bristled: New radar, new sonar, and lots of 3 inch and 5-inch rifles. Soon the torpedoes became more reliable and topped off a new workhorse at seal A potent new weapon!
Throughout World War II, we have found 108 destroyer-type vessels lost (sunk). We are developing a Memorial Wall in our headquarters in Somerset, MA. We intended to show you a picture of that wall, but all was delayed by the Cover-19 pandemic. That wall is underway, we have the pictures of the vessels and the frames - the major issue now is getting the pictures on the wall, and a photograph.
Tin Can Sailors / DesVets ask that you write your Representative in the House and ask that House Resolution 229 (H. Res. 229) be brought to the floor for a vote. The Speaker will very likely resist this as it benefits and recognizes military service. The way to overcome this resistance is a large and active movement from your members of the House of Representatives. Please know this is a No Cost item.
It pays no one anything. We do not think there is any possible graft that can be attached. This is simply the recognition of destroyers and those who have served aboard since 1903.
Tin Can Sailors / DesVets intends to use August to fulfill our mission statement using social media to show the current and former service destroyers and destroyer-types have successfully rendered to the United States. We have lots of naval history to review and publish. Please help us by contacting your Representative in the House. Click here to find your Representative.
Respectfully,
Morgan Little CAPT USN (Ret)
President DesVets
If you would like to read the entire text of the bill, please click here to download.
USS. Kearsarge Association
What kind of ship did you serve on? We are the USS. Kearsarge Association. There have been a number of Kearsarges to date. The first was a Sloop of War in 1861; the second was a Battleship, BB-5 in 898, the third was a Craneship, AB-1 in 1920, the fourth CV, CVA, CVS-33 in 1943, an Antisubmarine Warfare Aircraft Carrier, fifth was LHD-3 in 1992, an Amphibious Assault Ship. If you served on any of the Kearsarges and would like to make contact with any of your former shipmates, join the Association. We have members who served on most of the Kearsarges who would love to reacquaint themselves with you and swap Sea Stories. You can visit our website at www.kearsargeassociation.com and see what we have to offer. You will find a large number of Kearsaga issues and an application for membership and many other items of interest. Due to the Pandemic, we had to cancel our 2020 reunion, which was scheduled for May in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We are hoping that by next year the pandemic will be resolved, and we will, once again, try for Milwaukee. Check us out.
LIC. Jack De Merit, Kearsaga Editor