A notebook discovered inside a piece of furniture in Massachusetts turned out to be a written log of one U.S. Navy destroyer's trips to Europe and back during World War II, officials said. The book appears in good physical condition in images shared online, despite being linked to the USS Amesbury, which eventually sunk off the coast of Florida.
The found artifact contains a hardcover jacket binding pages of lined paper. A single page, photographed and shared by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, shows a travel record for the warship between June 13, 1944 and May 31, 1945. Within that timeframe, the destroyer apparently voyaged over the Atlantic Ocean several times, stopping in New York, Key West, Philadelphia and Annapolis in the U.S., as well as Panama and the United Kingdom.
"A small, military-green notebook containing information about the USS Amesbury was discovered by Brenda O'Keefe of Massachusetts in a piece of furniture," the marine sanctuary said in a Facebook post that included images of the log and cover.
The Lost Book of the USS Amesbury
Unearthed recently, a mysterious book detailing the activities and voyages of the USS Amesbury during World War II has sparked intrigue among historians and naval enthusiasts alike.
Referred to as "Alexander's Wreck" locally, the Amesbury was a U.S. Naval destroyer escort that met a tragic fate while being towed to deep waters to serve as an artificial reef. Unfortunately, a storm caused the ship to ground and break apart before it could be salvaged.
One poignant entry in the recovered book, dated April 7, 1945, reads: "War ended with Germany," marking a significant moment despite Germany's official surrender not occurring until May 7 of the same year.
The Amesbury, introduced as a convoy escort in 1943, dutifully carried out its role throughout the war, completing multiple voyages between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. It made notable stops in Ireland and Scotland, earning a battle star for its services off the coast of Normandy, France.
Seeking further insights, CBS News reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, responsible for the Florida Keys marine sanctuary, but awaits a response.
Back in 1946, naval officials decided to decommission a warship and place it in reserve, as reported by the organization Dive Center Key West. This 300-foot former destroyer met its fate when it ran aground and broke apart while being moved out to sea to create an artificial reef. Now known as Alexander's Wreck, the ship rests on the ocean floor approximately five miles off the coast of Key West. With water levels at a relatively shallow 25 feet, the wreck has become a popular destination for divers seeking adventure.
