His experiences aboard destroyers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Early education in England; U.S. Naval Academy, 1928-32; assignment to the USS Tennessee, 1932-33; assignment to the USS New Mexico, 1933-36; assignment to the USS Mahan, 1936-38; assignment to the USS Cuyama, 1938-39; developing techniques for refueling at sea; assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy, 1939-41; assignment to the Asiatic Fleet with the USS Parrott, 1941; start of World War II and operations around the Netherlands East Indies; Battle of Makassar Strait, January 23, 1942; assignment to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center, Melville, Rhode Island, August, 1942; designation as commander of PT Squadron 8; PT boat operations around New Guinea, 1943-44; appointment as skipper of the USS Melvin, October, 1944; Battle of Leyte Gulf and encounters with kamikazes; Battle of Surigao Strait, October, 1944; Lingayen landings; typhoon off the Philippines, December, 1944; offshore bombardments of Hokkaido and Honshu, 1945.