SHIP & SAILORS OF THE USS Des Moines
ANCHORS AWEIGH
Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
Anchors Aweigh, my boys,
Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore,
Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
President John F Kennedy - August 1, 1963
I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy."
I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy."
CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS - LAST UPDATED JUN 2020
CURRENT ASSOCIATION ROSTER - (NEW)
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COMMANDING OFFICERS - These files contain what has been found to date. |
MUSTER ROLLSWe only had 1948, part of 1949 but thanks to Leonard Buffry we have all 1957-1961 (New - added pages to 1949 list 6/26/2018)
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Villafranche Reunion - January 2017
Phil Roberts Ville Franche Reunion BookPhil was a JO2 who served aboard the Des Moine from 1955-56 in X Division
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CRUISE BOOKSWe have six (6) books; if you have one we don't have send it to the web master for scanning.
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PERSONAL STORIES
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BOOT CAMPNavy and Marine Boot Camps of Des Moines servicemen. Check it out and if a boot camp is missing, send the web master the book for scanning.
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PORTS OF CALLThese records are incomplete, so if you have any information send it to the web master.
also Port Tour Brochures |
Daisy Mae Newsletters
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The Hawk Eye Newsletters
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Deck Logs - Day to Day operations, Ship's location, Captain's Mast, AWOL, etcWe only have July-December 1955
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This is the Battle Flag of the USS Des Moines. Thanks for the photo from the “State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines” where the flag resides.
DES MOINES ANCHOR FOUND IN BOSTON A PLAQUE WAS ATTACHED NOVERMBER 9, 2019 See Newspaper articles and Pictures |
Check it out, if you have one that is not listed, please scan and send to the web master.
Check out the new patch created in 2017. You can order it from Ship's Stores. |
The history of the ship
VIDEO SHOWS RAPID FIRE OF THE DES MOINES GUNSGREAT VIDEO OF CONSTRUCTION OF DES MOINES CLASS, ITS PARTS AND HOW IT OPERATED - THIS IS ABOUT OUR SISTER SHIP THE SALEM
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Great Photos of USS Des Moines (inside and outside)Recently I had the chance to go aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134). She currently sits in the former Philadelphia Navy Yard where she has been waiting to be adopted since the mid-sixties but the Navy has decided to finally send her to be scrapped. Before scrapping the Navy invited other museum ships to send groups to the yard to retrieve items they can use on their ships. I was given the chance to go as part of the USS New Jersey's group on July 5th (20??) to try and salvage brass items for use on Big J. Myself and another Brass Team member had a great day searching for useable brass items and exploring the ship; see photos from our day - Unknown Sailor
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Misc Pictures of the USS Des Moines
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Best USS Des Moines ship model
USS Des Monies model made from LEGOs (NEW)
The Des Moines Photos - 2006 (another view)
Naval History and Heritage Command - USS Des Moines (CA-134)
The Heavy Cruiser USS Des Moines, CA 134 was the 2nd ship with this name. This web site has many photos of the Des Moines and descriptions of where it was. |
Cruiser Photo Archive - USS DES MOINES (CA 134)
This is a good web site that shows drawings of the side and overhead view as well as ships statistics, a list of commanding officers, and various pictures of the Des Moines and where it was over the years. |
The first Des Moines was the C-15, later the C-17. A neighbor of Walter Allan Mead (a retired Chief Yeoman) left her a number of pictures of the Original Des Moines (New 06/27/18)
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MILITARY RECORDSSend for your own records, free of charge.
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The enlisted rating badge for Petty Officer Third Class and above consists of two parts. The chevrons indicate the pay grade (rate). Between the chevrons and the eagle is an insignia indicating the Sailor's job speciality (rating). Insignia are white on blue uniforms and Navy blue on white uniforms
MISCELLANIOUS - Items than might not fit other categories |