William Victor Tomb

From Wikiversity.

The last two posts were about one of Confederate Navy Chief Engineer James H. Tom's sons, James Harvey Tomb.  This is about his other son.  Since Mr. Tomb lived to be 90 years old, dying in 1926, I am sure he was quite proud of his sons.

William Tomb was born in Missouri in 1877.  He kept a diary while on convoy duty during World War I which provides an important primary source on the development of the convoy system.

He commanded the USS Maumee (AO-2) which made a major accomplishment during World War I when it refueled six destroyers in mid-voyage on their way over to England after the United States entered the war.  Had the Maumee not done that, they would have had to lose a lot of time going into a port.  This was the first time that this had ever been done.

He received the Navy Cross for distinguished service.

In 1918, he became the first commander of the new destroyer USS Upshur (DD-144).

He died in Los Angeles in 1941.

--Cooter