A Massachusetts woman stumbled upon a remarkable find – a hidden piece of history from World War II concealed within a piece of furniture.
Brenda O’Keefe, a resident of Massachusetts, stumbled upon a green notebook that contained a detailed account of events aboard the USS Amesbury. This intriguing discovery was reported by the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Matthew Lawrence, a maritime archaeologist at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, expressed his excitement when he received a message from Ms. Brenda O’Keefe, the discoverer of the notebook. He mentioned that it is a rare occurrence for someone to reach out to the sanctuary’s staff with such a significant discovery. Lawrence greatly appreciates Ms. O’Keefe’s efforts in sharing this valuable information.
The ship’s voyages and activities during World War II are well-documented, even though the author remains unknown.
The Facebook post, shared by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, features a stunning image of a vibrant coral reef. The accompanying caption highlights the importance of protecting these delicate ecosystems and encourages viewers to explore the beauty and wonder of the Florida Keys. The post serves as a visual reminder of the need for conservation efforts to preserve these underwater treasures for future generations.
On June 13, 1944, the writer diligently chronicled the significant events of the ship’s journey.
On July 2, 1944, the ship set sail for England. Throughout the author’s trips between the United States and England, it became evident that these voyages typically lasted a few days at a time.
On April 7, 1945, I wrote an entry titled “War Ended with Germany.”
Lawrence explained that while they didn’t have any specific information about the individual, the records they kept added an additional dimension to the narrative of the ship.
Lawrence explained that the information contained in the notebook enables them to share the captivating maritime tales that are depicted within the National Marine Sanctuaries. These stories vary in scope, ranging from local anecdotes like the Amesbury’s hasty departure from Key West to escape an approaching hurricane, to global events such as the ship’s involvement in the D-Day landings in France.
USS Amesbury was a warship that made many voyages across the sea
The USS Amesbury, a U.S. naval destroyer escort, underwent a conversion to become a high-speed transport vessel in 1943, as reported by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Floridians refer to the ship as Alexander’s Wreck, which was named in honor of Lt. Stanton Amesbury. Lt. Amesbury sadly lost his life in enemy action over Casablanca on November 9, 1942.
On February 23, 1945, the author made a note in their notebook stating that they had left for Philly for conversion.
According to the marine sanctuary website, they have documented the event where the USS Amesbury, which was originally a destroyer escort, was converted into a high-speed transport at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
The sanctuary reported that the USS Amesbury voyaged to Korea and China, armed with a five-inch turret gun and three twin-mount, 40 mm antiaircraft guns.
The ship was stationed in Florida after retiring from active missions in 1946.
