After serving on the Astoria, J.C. was assigned to destroyer duty on USS Sims, DD409 as Torpedo Officer, August 1939 to September 1941, USS Rodman, DD456 as Gunnery Officer and Executive Officer ...

Three U.S. ships were known to have sunk in the northeastern area of the Coral Sea, the USS Lexington, the USS Sims and the USS Neosho, Burke said.