The Reminiscences of Rear Adm. Ralph Kirk James, USN (Ret.)

After serving in the USS New York (BB-34) and USS Utah (BB-31), he received a master of science degree from MIT. Was assigned as Construction Corps officer at Bremerton, Washington, then served in the Whitney as construction officer. In 1942 was sent to French West Africa as BuShips representative at U.S. Military Mission, during which time he also served briefly on staff of Commander, U.S. Forces Europe at Algiers, and in January 1943 attended part of the Casablanca Conference. Later duty included: maintenance officer at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides; staff of Commander Service Squadron Ten at Manus Island; officer in charge of ship parts control center, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Repair and Building Superintendent at Mare Island; and Chief of Bureau of Ships and Coordinator of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair for the Department of Defense.