Jack was born about March 1919 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia to Thomas Francis Jr and Mary A. (Sheehan) O’Donnell. Both parents were born in Savannah and Jack was their only child. Thomas was employed early in life as a driver for an express wagon. He found an affinity in the automobile industry as an auto mechanic. His love of cars continued with a partnership in a car dealership and later as an auto salesman. At the onset of the Great Depression, demand for autos became stagnant pushing the O’Donnell family into economic hard times.

Like so many youth of that era, Jack felt duty-bound to help his family with finances. He was also keen to learn a trade and find adventure. And, like many of his contemporaries, Jack was lured to the steady pay and opportunities of the US military services. At the local navy recruiting station (NRS) in Savannah, Jack secured an enlistment application in the early spring of 1937. He completed the preliminary entrance examinations; submitted personal references; completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. He also secured his father’s permission to enlist because he was not yet 21 years of age. Jack was placed on a waiting list for enlistment-eligible men.

He was notified to report to the Regional NRS in Macon, Bibb, GA on 18 May 1937 for enlistment. He boarded a train for the 165 mile trip from Savannah to Macon early in the morning of 18 May. He completed the final medical and dental examinations and was sworn into naval service with seven other navy recruits. Jack enlisted for a term of 4 years at the beginning rank of Apprentice Seaman (AS). His navy service number (NSN) was 268-27-60. The young men boarded a train later that afternoon for the trip to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Norfolk, Virginia for about 8 weeks of recruit training. After Jack completed his basic training he was granted a short leave period to visit family and friends at home. His leave complete, Jack returned to NTS Norfolk for assignment to either a service school or a ship of the US Fleet.

He was assigned to a ship where he quickly rose in the ranks from AS to Seaman Second Class (S2c) then Seaman First Class (S1c). S1c O’Donnell reported for duty on 31 Dec 1938 to the newly commissioned light cruiser, USS Honolulu (CL-48). After a shakedown cruise to England, Honolulu engaged in fleet problems and exercises in the Caribbean Sea. While the Honolulu was in the New York Navy Yard at Brooklyn, S1c O’Donnell advanced in rate to Fire Controlman Third Class (FC3c) on 16 May 1939. Honolulu steamed from New York on 24 May 1939 to join the Pacific Fleet, arriving at San Pedro, California, on 14 June.

During the first half of 1940, Honolulu continued operations out of Long Beach, California. On 08 May 1940, FC3 O’Donnell extended his enlistment for 2 additional years of service. Later that day, O’Donnell transferred to the Primary Fire Controlman School in Washington, D.C., via a ride on USS McCall (DD-400) to the receiving ship at San Francisco, then on board the USAT Leonard, then to the receiving station, Washington DC. It took a month of travel to get FC3 O’Donnell to Washington, DC. He began the 20+ week school on Monday 13 May 1940. While still in school, FC3 O’Donnell advanced in rate to Fire Controlman Second Class (FC2) on 16 Nov 1940. About a week later on 22 Nov 1940, FC2 O’Donnell transferred to the Receiving Ship (RS) in San Diego for further transfer back to Honolulu.

O’Donnell had to wait at the RS in San Diego almost a month before he was able to board the fleet oiler, USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) on 20 Dec 1940 for his ride back to Pearl Harbor. Kaskaskia steamed out of San Diego on 28 Dec 1940 and arrived in Pearl Harbor on 03 Jan 1941 disembarking her passengers. O’Donnell reported back on board Honolulu for duty later that day. Honolulu operated out of Pearl Harbor throughout 1941.

On 05 May 1941, O’Donnell was honorably discharged at the end of his enlistment. Records indicate he extended his enlistment on 08 May 1940 for two years probably as a requirement to attend the FC Primary School. That enlistment should have ended on 09 May 1942. However, on 06 May 1941, O’Donnell reenlisted for four more years of service in Pearl Harbor. It is believed that O’Donnell went on leave in late Jun 1941 possibly to marry Miss Martha Elizabeth who surname is not known.

On 22 July 1941, he transferred from the RS, San Diego to the destroyer, USS Phelps (DD-360), as a passenger returning to duty on board Honolulu. Phelps steamed out of San Diego on 24 July 1941 and arrived in Pearl Harbor about a week later. On 01 Sep 1941, FC2 O’Donnell advanced in rate to Fire Controlman First Class (FC1). His advancement in rate to First Class in only four years of service is remarkable. Fire Controlmen were highly skilled technicians responsible for the operation of various forms of range finding gear, as well as the solving of ballistics calculations to control the firing of the ship's guns. These skills were employed initially for naval gunfire support and surface combat, but during World War II, their responsibilities expanded into anti-aircraft warfare as well.

With the winds of war blowing ever harder by late 1941, the Navy Department was hurriedly attempting to fill manning shortages in the Asiatic Fleet. In November 1941, FC1 (M) O’Donnell received change of station orders to detach from Honolulu and report for assignment to Asiatic Station in Manila, Philippines. On 20 Nov 1941, O’Donnell detached from Honolulu and reported on board the transport ship, USS Chaumont (AP-5), as a passenger. Also on board Chaumont were two other Fire Controlman, FC3 (M) Archie Kennedy Cook and FC3 (M) Harold Arthur Frisbie. Ironically, the three men would serve on USS Peary (DD-226) instead of USS John D. Ford (DD-228) and USS Pope (DD-225) to which they were initially ordered.

Chaumont steamed out of Honolulu on 29 Nov 1941 bound for Manila. Not long after clearing the harbor, Chaumont joined what has become known as the Pensacola convoy. It would be an epic voyage.

The flagship of the convoy was the troop transport, USS Republic (AP-33). The convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy for its escort ship, the heavy cruiser, USS Pensacola (CA-24) (also seen by the US Army as the "Republic Convoy"), included the gunboat, USS Niagara (PG-52), US Navy transports USS Republic (AP-33) and USS Chaumont (AP-5), the US Army transport (USAT) Willard A Holbrook and USAT Meigs; the US Merchant ships S.S. Admiral Halstead and S.S. Coast Farmer, and the Dutch merchant ship MS Bloemfontein.

On board the convoy were 2600 US Army Air Forces personnel. On the Bloemfontein were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 pursuit planes of the 35th Pursuit Group (PG) while forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG were embarked on the Republic and thirty-nine newly graduated but as yet unassigned pilots were on board the Holbrook. The presence of these planes and pilots would impact the destiny of the seaplane tender, USS Langley (AV-3), and the USS Edsall (DD-219). After war broke out, and Japanese forces attacked the Philippines, the convoy was diverted first to Suva, Fiji Islands.

On 14 Dec 1941, O’Donnell, Frisbie and Cook transferred in Suva from Chaumont to Pensacola for duty. The convoy got underway on the 16th bound for Brisbane, Australia. Pensacola entered the harbor at Brisbane on 22 Dec 1941 and moored at Newstead Wharf. On 27 Dec 1941, Petty Officers O’Donnell, Frisbie and Cook returned to Chaumont . On the afternoon of 28 Dec, Pensacola, along with transports Chaumont and USAT Willard A. Holbrook got underway.

On 2 Jan 1942, the Dutch ship MS Bloemfontein rejoined the convoy. The following morning (03 Jan 42) the convoy made passage through the Torres Strait above Cape York in far North Queensland, Australia. There they were joined by the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and several destroyers. Houston relieved Pensacola as the convoy heavy escort, and with her destroyers and convoy ships proceeded to Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. Pensacola returned to Brisbane.

Chaumont dropped anchor in Port Darwin where O’Donnell disembarked on 17 Jan 1942 and reported to the Commander, Destroyer Squadron 29 (CDS-29) on board the destroyer tender, USS Black Hawk (AD-9) for assignment. Later that day, O’Donnell was assigned to duty on board the destroyer, USS John D. Ford (DD-228). O’Donnell transferred to USS Peary (DD-226) for further transfer to Ford on the 17th. However, O’Donnell did not transfer to Ford, but remained on Peary for duty. Whoever made the decision to retain O’Donnell on board Peary ultimately cost him his life. USS John D. Ford survived the war.

Peary had anchored at Port Darwin at 0840, 03 Jan 1942 after a 2100 mile plus transit from Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia. Within a week of arriving at Darwin, twenty-eight enlisted men and officers became ill with a virulent form of Malaria or Dengue Fever, contracted when the ship anchored off remote Maitara Island near Ternate in the Halmakeras. It was necessary to stop there to make repairs after being mistakenly identified as a Japanese ship by Australian aircraft who then attacked. Eventually eight men would die from the diseases.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs and make her seaworthy. Those repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. Peary assumed submarine escort duties on numerous occasions. She was an anti-submarine escort for USS Langley (AV-3) from Darwin to Fremantle, Australia between 08-13 Feb 1942 and she steamed with USS Houston escorting a Darwin-Koepang convoy from 14 to 18 Feb 1942. She also searched for a submarine contact which reduced her fuel supply such that she had to return to Port Darwin to refuel.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin came under attack by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary was hit by five bombs. The fifth bomb, an incendiary, exploded in the after engine room opening the ship to the sea. Peary sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing until the last enemy plane left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. FC1 (M) O’Donnell was believed to have gone down with his ship. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. On 14 April 1942, Mr and Mrs O’Donnell received a telegram from the Navy Department. It read in part; The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Fire Controlman First Class (M), Jack Thomas O’Donnell, US Navy is missing following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country.

The following year, Mr and Mrs O’Donnell received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, dated 17 March 1943. It read; "After a full review of all available information, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your son, Jack Thomas O’Donnell, Fire Controlman First Class (M), U.S.N., is deceased, having been reported 'missing in action' on the 19th day of February 1942, being a member of the crew and serving aboard the U.S.S. PEARY when that vessel was sunk in the port of Darwin, Australia. In accordance with Section 5 of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, your son's death is presumed to have occurred on the 20th of February 1943, which is the day following the day of expiration of an absence of twelve months. I extend to you my sincere sympathy in your great loss and hope you may find comfort in the knowledge that your son gave his life for his Country, upholding the highest traditions of the Navy. The Navy shares in your sense of bereavement and will feel the loss of his service."

FC1 (M) O’Donnell was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp (bronze star in lieu of clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (one bronze star in lieu of clasp), and the WWII Victory Medal. He may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactively) and the Good Conduct Medal.

-----------------------------

FC1 (M) O'Donnell's parents also received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Jack Thomas O’DONNELL, who died in the service of his country at Darwin, Australia, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 20 February 1943 (presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

---------------------------

Primary Sources:

1) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

2) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

3) Several Newspaper articles

4) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

5) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location. www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2021. URL may no longer work.

6) Wikipedia page, USS Peary (DD-226), Retrieved 12 November 2021.

7) Wilde, E. Andrew, Jr. (Ed). U.S.S. Peary (DD-226) in World War II, Manila to Darwin, 12/10/41-2/19/42: Needham, Mass. : The Editor, 2007. http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/226peary_wilde.pdf

8) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

9) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

10) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

--------------------------------

Link to USS Peary memorial in Darwin, Australia with list of names of those lost in the sinking of the ship. It's a cenotaph. https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/monuments_memorials/uss_peary_memorial.htm Link to photo of Plaque: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: USS_Peary_DD226_-_Roll_of_Honour.jpg

-----------------

Bio#389 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor ID#154611

Find A Grave Memorial Page #242216995