Vance, A. J.

Lieutenant Commander A.J. Vance, United States Naval Reserve, served on the USS Mississippi during World War II. Vance saw action in many parts of the Pacific, including the Japanese campaign against the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The USS Mississippi (BB-41), nicknamed 'Ole Miss,' was a New Mexico class battleship commissioned in June of 1914 and launched in January of 1917. The Mississippi was in Iceland when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. The battleship arrived in San Francisco in January 1942 and spent the next six months on escort duty on the west coast. From December 1942 through March 1943, the vessel operated around Pearl Harbor and the Fiji Islands. In May of that year, the Mississippi departed for the Aleutian Islands to take part in bombardment missions. After leaving the Aleutians in October, the battleship was overhauled in San Francisco. Thereafter, the battle ship participated in various Pacific island battles and campaigns, primarily carrying out bombardment duties. Among these were the Gilbert Islands, Kwajalein, Tarowa, Wotje, Palau, the Anguar Islands, and the Philippine campaign. After being damaged by a kamikaze, the battleship was repaired in Pearl Harbor. She then departed for the invasion of Okinawa. After the war, the ship was converted to AG 128, and later to EAG 128. The USS Mississippi was decommissioned as EAG 128 on September 17, 1956, and later sold for scrap to Bethlehem Steel. The USS Mississippi was awarded eight battle stars for service in World War II.

From the description of World War II scrapbook, 1943-1944. (UAA/APU Consortium Library). WorldCat record id: 60336354