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Subject: USS Isherwood DD 520
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003
From: Jim Kelly
To: DestroyersOnline.com

Mark,

I thought I would share the night the capt saved the Isherwood and crew from a disaster at sea.

USS Isherwood Westpac Cruise ( 1959-1960 ? )
Commander O'Connell was capt.

We were steaming in circle formation. The carrier USS Kearsarge was the flag ship. I don't remember how many DD's were in the formation. I knew that our relative position from the flagship was 230 deg. I was the SM on midwatch and was aware that a maneuver message from the flag ship was eminent about 2am. We were steaming at darken ship condition so our nancy gear was powered up. I was at my station alert and ready for any incoming message. 2am came and went and no signal from the carrier. I don't recall how much past 2am it was when Capt O'Connell came on deck and with great authority yelled "I have the conn, left standard rudder, all ahead flank." He came up to me and verbally laid into me good. I don't recall to this day what he said to me. I do know I was scared to death.

I don't know all the details that are put into play during those exercises. I do know the Capt was in his cabin because when he took the conn he was wearing his boxer shorts, bare foot and wearing his hat. Some how he knew our ship was in grave danger and on a collision course with the carrier. After many anxious hours ( especially for me ). We received an apology from the flagship. Some how the SM's on duty skipped the Isherwood???

It could of been the end of the Isherwood and her crew that night.

THANK YOU CAPT O'CONNELL

12/18/60: Back row left to right - Kvasnikoff, Jones, Jim Kelly,
Front row, May, Nutt, Berroth

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Isherwood docked Kavalla Greece June 1953