Monroe M. Diefendorf

Monroe M. Diefendorf

I was born on July 18, 1924 in Mount Vernon, New York. I enlisted on November 1, 1943 and attended V-12 Program at Williams College in Williamstown, Maine from November 1, 1943 to October 31. 1944. From November 1, 1944 to February 28, 1945 I attended Notre Dame Midshipman's School, and then went on to Advanced Line Officer's School in Hollywood Beach, Florida form March 1, 1945 to June 1, 1945.

I boarded the Nassau in San Diego on June 15, 1945 and performed the duties of 2nd Division Officer and Gunnery Officer; and as an Ensign stood Officer of the Deck watch under Captain Frank Turner~ command.

My most memorable event white on board the U.S.S. Nassau was when the Nassau received an urgent message from a freighter which required attention for a very sick sailor, and needed a ship in the area with a doctor on board. We responded in the affirmative that we had a very able doctor. Dr. Joseph Lambert. We made plans to rendezvous with the freighter in the mid-Pacific, but it would take quite a few hours to meet since we were may miles apart. We were scheduled to meet in the early hours of the morning.

Captain Turner directed Ensign O'Brien, in charge of the ship's 1st division, to prepare the motor whaleboat to make the trip to the freighter and pick up the disabled sailor. I hasten to add at this point we were in very heavy seas and the trip to the freighter would be extremely hazardous. The whaleboat was selected because of its V-shaped bottom, which would allow it to slice through the waves. It was the most seaworthy craft we had. However, news came that there was a problem with the motor of the whaleboat and we should prepare 10 use the flat-bottomed motor launch for this dangerous journey.

It was doubtful that the launch under my command as officer of the 2nd Division could survive the trip through the monstrous waves In spite of the fact that we had 2 of the fines Boson's Mates in the Navy, Harold Fix and Harry Zimmerman. Fortunately, for us, before we undertook our suicidal mission, the motor whaleboat was repaired and the every-adventurous Ensign O'Brien took off with his crew on this mercy mission.

I can remember our ship's spotlights trained on the whaleboat as it made its way to the freighter in the pitch-dark of night. As the whaleboat would hit the trough of each wave, we would lose complete sight of the whaleboat as the crest of the wave on either side completely hid it. We were overjoyed each time the whaleboat came into sight again, so was O'Brien, as he hugged St. Christopher's medal. Fortunately, the mission was successfully carried out, but not without considerable damage to the whaleboat as it was smashed against the hull of our ship by the heavy seas as we raised it out of the water.

Had it not been for those competent mechanics who repaired the whaleboats motor, I would not be writing about this adventurous night and the heroics of Ensign. O'Brien.

This event occurred 56 years ago. Marty O'Brien and I have remained good friends over these 56 years, occasionally see each other, have a game of golf and always talk about that infamous night in the mid-Pacific, but not without a few chuckles. I still claim he sabotaged the motor on the whaleboat and was trying to send me to Davey Jones locker. I graduated from The Stony Brook School, Stony Brook, New York in June 1942; graduated from Amherst College, Amherst, Maine In 1947. I have had a career in sales with Mutual of New York (MONY) from 1948-1986. 1959-1986 I was General Sales Manager for MONY in New York City. 1974-1975 I was National President of the General Agents and Managers Association (10,000 members). In 1984 I was elected to the National Association's Hall of Fame. 1979-1986 I was Trustee of the American College of Financial Services, Bryn, Pennsylvania. I have been active in many civic, religious and educational organizations.

I married Evelyn Broglio on April 16, 1949, and we have two children, Martha Diefendorf and Monroe M. Diefendorf,Jr. We also have six nifty grandchildren.