Current:Home > ScamsUnknown sailor's notebook found hidden in furniture tells story of USS Amesbury's WWII journey -ProgressCapital
Unknown sailor's notebook found hidden in furniture tells story of USS Amesbury's WWII journey
View
Date:2025-04-24 16:42:26
A Massachusetts woman discovered a historic artifact that dates back to World War II and was hidden inside of a piece of furniture.
Brenda O'Keefe, a Massachusetts resident, found a green notebook that documented events from the USS Amesbury, according to the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
“I was thrilled to be contacted by the notebook's discoverer, Ms. Brenda O'Keefe,” Matthew Lawrence, a maritime archaeologist at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary told USA TODAY. “It is not often that someone reaches out to the sanctuary's staff with a discovery such as this, so we greatly value Ms. O'Keefe's efforts to share the information.”
Although the author is unknown, many of this ship's voyages and activities during World War II are documented.
Starting on June 13, 1944, the writer wrote key events of the ship's journey.
By July 2, 1944, the ship left for England. Making trips between the Unites States and England, the author showed that these journeys lasted a few days at a time.
On April 7, 1945, the author created an entry titled, “war ended with Germany.”
Although there were no identifiers to who this person might be, Lawrence said their record-keeping adds another layer to the vessel's story.
“The notebook's information allows us to tell the maritime stories embodied by the National Marine Sanctuaries,” Lawrence said. “Sometimes the stories are local, like when the Amesbury had to leave Key West to avoid a hurricane. Other times the stories are global, like when the Amesbury's participated in the D-Day landings in France.”
55 US Coast Guard cadets:Disciplined after cheating scandal for copying homework answers
USS Amesbury was a warship that made many voyages across the sea
In 1943, the USS Amesbury, a U.S. naval destroyer escort, was converted to a high speed transport vessel, according to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Known to Floridians as Alexander's Wreck, the ship was named after Lt. Stanton Amesbury who was killed in enemy action over Casablanca on Nov. 9, 1942.
In the notebook, the author dated an entry on Feb. 23, 1945, “left for Philly for conversion.”
The marine sanctuary notes this event on its website, stating that the USS Amesbury was one of the 104 destroyer escorts that was converted to a high-speed transport at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
The USS Amesbury traveled to Korea and China and was equipped with a five-inch turret gun and three twin-mount, 40 mm antiaircraft guns, the sanctuary said.
In 1946, the ship was retired from active missions and was stationed in Florida.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (25162)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Wildfire near Canada’s oil sands hub under control, Alberta officials say
- Alabama man set to be executed Thursday maintains innocence in elderly couple's murder
- Sweden seeks to answer worried students’ questions about NATO and war after its neutrality ends
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Haiti's transitional council names Garry Conille as new prime minister as country remains under siege by gangs
- IRS makes free tax return program permanent and is asking all states to join in 2025
- Executions worldwide jumped last year to the highest number since 2015, Amnesty report says
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Ohio attorney general must stop blocking proposed ban on police immunity, judges say
Ranking
- 'Most Whopper
- South Africa’s president faces his party’s worst election ever. He’ll still likely be reelected
- Massive international police operation takes down ransomware networks, arrests 4 suspects
- Biden to make his first state visit to France after attending D-Day 80th commemorations next week
- Sonya Massey's family keeps eyes on 'full justice' one month after shooting
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Flowery Language
- Authorities kill alligator after woman's remains were found lodged inside reptile's jaw
- From 'Bring It On' to 'Backspot,' these cheerleader movies are at the top of the pyramid
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
Nearly 1.9 million Fiji water bottles sold through Amazon recalled over bacteria, manganese
South Africa’s surprise election challenger is evoking the past anti-apartheid struggle
North Korea flies hundreds of balloons full of trash over South Korea
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Powerball winning numbers for May 29 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $143 million
Stuck at sea for years, a sailor’s plight highlights a surge in shipowner abandonment
'Evening the match': Melinda French Gates to give $1 billion to women's rights groups