Jack B. McDermott

Rank: Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy

Serial: 02999149

Unit: USS Nelson DD-623

Entered service from: Wisconsin

Died: June 12, 1944

Missing in action or buried at sea. Listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France.

Awards: Purple Heart

Seaman First Class Jack B. McDermott served aboard the destroyer USS Nelson DD-623. The Nelson was laid down on May 7, 1942 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; launched on September 15, 1942; and commissioned on November 26, 1942, with Lt. Comdr. M. M. Riker in command. After shakedown along the Atlantic coast, Nelson reported to the Atlantic Fleet on January 21, 1943. Through May 29, she operated on convoy duty as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 17, making runs to Bermuda, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Dakar, French West Africa; Aruba, Netherlands West Indies; Casablanca; and Gibraltar.

Upon completion of a short training period at Norfolk, Virginia, Nelson got underway on June 7 to take part in the invasion of Sicily. Serving as flagship for Commander Task Force 81 during the Sicily operation, Nelson was assigned duty with the central part of the Western Task Force, landing assault troops on beachheads near Gela, Sicily.

Seaman First Class Jack B. McDermott was killed in action on June 12, 1944 during mine-clearing operations following the D-Day landings. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery.