USS Vincennes (CA-44) was a United States Navy New Orleans-class cruiser, She was laid down on 2 January 1934 at Quincy, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company's Fore River plant, launched on 21 May 1936
Loss at the Battle of Savo Island
On 9 August 1942 the ship in the hands of the executive officer, Commander W. E. A. Mullan. Nearly an hour later, at about 0145, lookouts spotted flares and star shells to the southward, accompanied by the low rumble of gunfire. Six cruisers and one destroyer under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa had turned north and were steaming directly towards Vincennes and her two sisters.
The first Japanese cruiser searchlight beams illuminated Vincennes's shortly after 0155, and the American cruiser opened fire with her main battery at the troublesome lights. Within a minute, however, Japanese shells bracketed the ship and Vincennes shuddered under the impact of Japanese eight-inch armor-piercing shells. The bridge, carpenter shop, "battle II," and radio antenna trunks all were hit by the first salvo.
Altering course to port, Captain Frederick Lois Riefkohl, who had come to the bridge at the alarm, resumed command and rang down for increased speed. With the ship and internal communications disrupted, it is doubtful that the order was received. Still moving at 19.5 kn (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h), the heavy cruiser reeled under the impact of another group of direct hits.
Some of the shells in this group set fire to the volatile aircraft in Vincennes' hangar space, and the resultant flames became uncontrollable. A direct hit knocked the aft antiaircraft director overboard. At 0200, Vincennes heeled to starboard in an attempt to evade enemy gunfire, only to be hit by Japanese torpedoes. One or two "Long Lance" torpedoes ripped into the ship's number 4 fireroom and put it out of action.
Having lost power and all steering control five minutes later, Vincennes was dead in the water within minutes. The glare of burning fires attracted additional incoming shells which quickly put the ship's own guns out of action. Vincennes shuddered to a halt. Hit at least 85 times by 8 in (200 mm) and 5 in (130 mm) shells, the ship gradually began to list. At 0210, the Japanese retired, leaving Savo Island and the burning hulks of three American cruisers in their wakes. As Vincennes' list increased to port, Riefkohl issued the order to abandon ship at 0230. Serviceable life jackets and rafts were broken out, and the crew began abandoning ship. 332 crewmen did not survive and are officially recorded as killed in action in the loss of Vincennes.
S/O Esther Edna (Wilson) & Simon P. Sersain
Wife was Alice Sarah (Brown)Sersain
Service # 197139 per ABMC and USN records
Service # 1916508 per alternate USN records.
Rank Machinist U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
SERSAIN, SIMON L MACH NAVY 00197139 USS VINCENNES; UNITED STATES NAVY 8/9/1942 NON RECOVERABLE Solomon Islands
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Loss at the Battle of Savo Island
On 9 August 1942 the ship in the hands of the executive officer, Commander W. E. A. Mullan. Nearly an hour later, at about 0145, lookouts spotted flares and star shells to the southward, accompanied by the low rumble of gunfire. Six cruisers and one destroyer under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa had turned north and were steaming directly towards Vincennes and her two sisters.
The first Japanese cruiser searchlight beams illuminated Vincennes's shortly after 0155, and the American cruiser opened fire with her main battery at the troublesome lights. Within a minute, however, Japanese shells bracketed the ship and Vincennes shuddered under the impact of Japanese eight-inch armor-piercing shells. The bridge, carpenter shop, "battle II," and radio antenna trunks all were hit by the first salvo.
Altering course to port, Captain Frederick Lois Riefkohl, who had come to the bridge at the alarm, resumed command and rang down for increased speed. With the ship and internal communications disrupted, it is doubtful that the order was received. Still moving at 19.5 kn (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h), the heavy cruiser reeled under the impact of another group of direct hits.
Some of the shells in this group set fire to the volatile aircraft in Vincennes' hangar space, and the resultant flames became uncontrollable. A direct hit knocked the aft antiaircraft director overboard. At 0200, Vincennes heeled to starboard in an attempt to evade enemy gunfire, only to be hit by Japanese torpedoes. One or two "Long Lance" torpedoes ripped into the ship's number 4 fireroom and put it out of action.
Having lost power and all steering control five minutes later, Vincennes was dead in the water within minutes. The glare of burning fires attracted additional incoming shells which quickly put the ship's own guns out of action. Vincennes shuddered to a halt. Hit at least 85 times by 8 in (200 mm) and 5 in (130 mm) shells, the ship gradually began to list. At 0210, the Japanese retired, leaving Savo Island and the burning hulks of three American cruisers in their wakes. As Vincennes' list increased to port, Riefkohl issued the order to abandon ship at 0230. Serviceable life jackets and rafts were broken out, and the crew began abandoning ship. 332 crewmen did not survive and are officially recorded as killed in action in the loss of Vincennes.
S/O Esther Edna (Wilson) & Simon P. Sersain
Wife was Alice Sarah (Brown)Sersain
Service # 197139 per ABMC and USN records
Service # 1916508 per alternate USN records.
Rank Machinist U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
SERSAIN, SIMON L MACH NAVY 00197139 USS VINCENNES; UNITED STATES NAVY 8/9/1942 NON RECOVERABLE Solomon Islands
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
USS Vincennes (CA-44) was a United States Navy New Orleans-class cruiser, She was laid down on 2 January 1934 at Quincy, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company's Fore River plant, launched on 21 May 1936
Loss at the Battle of Savo Island
On 9 August 1942 the ship in the hands of the executive officer, Commander W. E. A. Mullan. Nearly an hour later, at about 0145, lookouts spotted flares and star shells to the southward, accompanied by the low rumble of gunfire. Six cruisers and one destroyer under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa had turned north and were steaming directly towards Vincennes and her two sisters.
The first Japanese cruiser searchlight beams illuminated Vincennes's shortly after 0155, and the American cruiser opened fire with her main battery at the troublesome lights. Within a minute, however, Japanese shells bracketed the ship and Vincennes shuddered under the impact of Japanese eight-inch armor-piercing shells. The bridge, carpenter shop, "battle II," and radio antenna trunks all were hit by the first salvo.
Altering course to port, Captain Frederick Lois Riefkohl, who had come to the bridge at the alarm, resumed command and rang down for increased speed. With the ship and internal communications disrupted, it is doubtful that the order was received. Still moving at 19.5 kn (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h), the heavy cruiser reeled under the impact of another group of direct hits.
Some of the shells in this group set fire to the volatile aircraft in Vincennes' hangar space, and the resultant flames became uncontrollable. A direct hit knocked the aft antiaircraft director overboard. At 0200, Vincennes heeled to starboard in an attempt to evade enemy gunfire, only to be hit by Japanese torpedoes. One or two "Long Lance" torpedoes ripped into the ship's number 4 fireroom and put it out of action.
Having lost power and all steering control five minutes later, Vincennes was dead in the water within minutes. The glare of burning fires attracted additional incoming shells which quickly put the ship's own guns out of action. Vincennes shuddered to a halt. Hit at least 85 times by 8 in (200 mm) and 5 in (130 mm) shells, the ship gradually began to list. At 0210, the Japanese retired, leaving Savo Island and the burning hulks of three American cruisers in their wakes. As Vincennes' list increased to port, Riefkohl issued the order to abandon ship at 0230. Serviceable life jackets and rafts were broken out, and the crew began abandoning ship. 332 crewmen did not survive and are officially recorded as killed in action in the loss of Vincennes.
S/O Esther Edna (Wilson) & Simon P. Sersain
Wife was Alice Sarah (Brown)Sersain
Service # 197139 per ABMC and USN records
Service # 1916508 per alternate USN records.
Rank Machinist U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
SERSAIN, SIMON L MACH NAVY 00197139 USS VINCENNES; UNITED STATES NAVY 8/9/1942 NON RECOVERABLE Solomon Islands
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Loss at the Battle of Savo Island
On 9 August 1942 the ship in the hands of the executive officer, Commander W. E. A. Mullan. Nearly an hour later, at about 0145, lookouts spotted flares and star shells to the southward, accompanied by the low rumble of gunfire. Six cruisers and one destroyer under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa had turned north and were steaming directly towards Vincennes and her two sisters.
The first Japanese cruiser searchlight beams illuminated Vincennes's shortly after 0155, and the American cruiser opened fire with her main battery at the troublesome lights. Within a minute, however, Japanese shells bracketed the ship and Vincennes shuddered under the impact of Japanese eight-inch armor-piercing shells. The bridge, carpenter shop, "battle II," and radio antenna trunks all were hit by the first salvo.
Altering course to port, Captain Frederick Lois Riefkohl, who had come to the bridge at the alarm, resumed command and rang down for increased speed. With the ship and internal communications disrupted, it is doubtful that the order was received. Still moving at 19.5 kn (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h), the heavy cruiser reeled under the impact of another group of direct hits.
Some of the shells in this group set fire to the volatile aircraft in Vincennes' hangar space, and the resultant flames became uncontrollable. A direct hit knocked the aft antiaircraft director overboard. At 0200, Vincennes heeled to starboard in an attempt to evade enemy gunfire, only to be hit by Japanese torpedoes. One or two "Long Lance" torpedoes ripped into the ship's number 4 fireroom and put it out of action.
Having lost power and all steering control five minutes later, Vincennes was dead in the water within minutes. The glare of burning fires attracted additional incoming shells which quickly put the ship's own guns out of action. Vincennes shuddered to a halt. Hit at least 85 times by 8 in (200 mm) and 5 in (130 mm) shells, the ship gradually began to list. At 0210, the Japanese retired, leaving Savo Island and the burning hulks of three American cruisers in their wakes. As Vincennes' list increased to port, Riefkohl issued the order to abandon ship at 0230. Serviceable life jackets and rafts were broken out, and the crew began abandoning ship. 332 crewmen did not survive and are officially recorded as killed in action in the loss of Vincennes.
S/O Esther Edna (Wilson) & Simon P. Sersain
Wife was Alice Sarah (Brown)Sersain
Service # 197139 per ABMC and USN records
Service # 1916508 per alternate USN records.
Rank Machinist U.S. Navy
★ Purple Heart
SERSAIN, SIMON L MACH NAVY 00197139 USS VINCENNES; UNITED STATES NAVY 8/9/1942 NON RECOVERABLE Solomon Islands
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
Family Members
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