Personal Data
- Spalding Kenan Manson, JR, LT, USN
- Tulane Naval ROTC Class of 1942
- BS Civil Engineering
- Commissioned 1942
Historical Events
- World War II, Atlantic and Pacific Theaters
Assignments / Engagements
- Atlantic Theater:
- USS TEXAS, BB 35, gunnery junior officer in turret #1.
- Escort convoys to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Prestwick, Scotland.
- Assigned to admiral’s staff (Commander Battleships Atlantic Fleet – COMBATLANT) as a decoder – Admiral’s staff embarked in USS TEXAS; Escort convoy to Casablanca to reinforce Gen. George Patton; First amphibious invasion.
- Transfer with admiral’s staff to USS SOUTH DAKOTA, BB 57; Deploy with British Fleet, to contain German battleship TIRPITZ in Norway, from Scapa Flow base, Orkney Isles, and guard Murmansk convoys.
- Transfer to USS SOUTH DAKOTA (at own request) in Norfolk, to engineering department and damage control – proceed to South Pacific.
- Pacific Theater:
- USS SOUTH DAKOTA BB57, Electrical Officer; Participated in island hopping campaigns against Japanese; Tarawa, Kwajalein, Okinawa.
- May 1945 assigned to NROTC Unit, Univ. of Texas, Austin until Navy tour of duty was finished. Offered a promotion to LCDR to remain in service, but offered a good construction job in family business so he declined. Discharged to civilian life.
Other Notable Content
- Battleship torpedo evasion tactics
- Led Electrical Division through challenging 36 hour re-build of drive motor for gun turret between engagements
- USS SOUTH DAKOTA attacked by lone Japanese bomber, 27 men killed, US Marines impressive quick action on damage control and everything they do.