John Weir Kennedy, Jr.

John Kennedy joined the Marine detachment of the USS Wasp (CV-7) in the summer of 1941. The green second lieutenant was made a battery officer in charge of the carrier’s five-inch gun mounts, and served in that capacity for nearly a year. He participated in neutrality patrols and then, after the United States entered the war, made convoy runs to Malta delivering aircraft for the RAF.

American carrier losses in the Pacific led to Wasp’s reassignment to the other side of the globe. On 25 June 1942, shortly before sailing for the combat zone, Kennedy – now a captain – took command of the Marine detachment. The departing skipper, Captain Ronald Van Stockum, served alongside Kennedy for the past twelve months and was upset to be leaving the ship. Perhaps to bolster his friend’s spirits, Kennedy sent “a very fine letter” to Van Stockum from the combat zone. “We’re still afloat,” he wrote, “and I hope we’ll stay that way.” The letter was dated 4 September 1942.

At 1444 hours on 15 September 1942, Wasp was recovering a combat air patrol and preparing to launch a combined fighter-bomber force. Crews busily armed and fueled the planes, while the deck gang spotted the strike force for takeoff. It was an extremely hazardous time aboard a carrier – and unfortunately the Wasp’s luck ran out. The Japanese submarine I-9 launched a spread of torpedoes at the Wasp and scored three hits near the gasoline tanks and magazine.

The stricken carrier lurched, flinging planes into the air. Fires broke out on multiple decks as gasoline and munitions went up in flames. Water mains broke and hampered firefighting efforts. After thirty minutes of struggle, Captain Forrest Sherman of the Wasp ordered his crew to abandon ship. Wasp was scuttled by friendly torpedoes, and sank at 2100 hours.