In May 1942, he played a part in perhaps the Wasp’s greatest achievement, which was delivering British Spitfire planes in the relief of the island of Malta. During this period, he got to know many of the officers who would feature so heavily in the story of the Wasp’s sinking, five months later. My descriptions of the men on board the Wasp were drawn from naval and newspaper reports. Here was a man who had served with those characters, shoulder to shoulder.

Van Stockum fondly remembered John Shea, author of the heart-rending letter to his son, as a fine naval officer who hid his intellectual capabilities from his fellow sailors. He laughed when he spoke about Shea’s superior, Michael Kernodle, a “character” who was known as “the ugliest man in the Navy” — a sobriquet he apparently wore with pride and good humor. Van Stockum recalled that, in the Mediterranean, another officer, Benedict Semmes Jr., had patiently showed him how to steer the ship from the bridge, and had identified the towns of the North African coast that to Van Stockum appeared only as twinkling lights. (Calm and patience appeared to be strong qualities in Semmes: months later, after the Wasp was hit, he chose not to tell a group of fellow swimmers that a shark was circling them, lest he cause a panic.)

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When the Wasp transferred back to Norfolk Naval Yards later in 1942, the carrier came under the command of Forrest P. Sherman. Van Stockum recalled that Sherman was a kind and reasonable officer who transformed the atmosphere on board. In June, when the Wasp reached San Diego, shortly to depart for the Pacific theater, Van Stockum was told he would be leaving the ship, bound for other duties with the Marine Corps. He entreated Sherman to let him stay on the Wasp, but the orders had been given.

Van Stockum was replaced by a Capt. John Kennedy. Some weeks later, Van Stockum received a “very fine” letter from his successor. “We’re still afloat,” it read, “and I hope we stay that way.” On Sept. 15, 1942, Kennedy was killed with nearly 200 other sailors. Throughout the rest of World War II, during which Van Stockum fought with the Marine Corps with distinction in the Pacific theater, he survived many other close calls. But he would never forget his service on the Wasp.