War Cruise ’44-46 U.S.S. Chester T. O’Brien

Tracing the path of a World War II destroyer escort.

This commemorative map shows the route of the U.S.S. Chester T. O’Brien during her first period of service in the United States Navy. Named after a Platoon Sergeant killed in Guadalcanal in 1943, the ship was commissioned in July 1944 and decommissioned almost exactly two years later. During her brief period of active duty, the destroyer escort performed numerous roles in the Pacific Theater; including escort service, troop transport, amphibious training, and administrative organization.

The ship’s tracks can be traced across the central image (though part of the Atlantic journey is cut off), with an inset in the lower right showing one of the best-known actions – guarding the Italian submarine Goffredo Mameli as it was moved to the East Coast. Photographs of the U.S.S. Chester T. O’Brien, over 300 feet long with a crew of about 220 men, can be seen on either side.

The map was published in Los Angeles in 1946 by Thompson Photo Service and intended as a souvenir for sailors disembarking the ship for the last time. The company memorialized the actions of several other ships using the same format. Likely due to limited distribution, these productions are scarce and not readily available on the market or in institutional collections. This example is unlisted in WorldCat as of May 2024.