Vernon’s first ship that he was stationed on was the U.S.S. Mahan (DD-364) on January 24, 1939. It was named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan. The U.S.S. Mahan was 1,524 tons with a standard load, and was 341 feet and 3 inches in length. It had a maximum speed of 37 knots, and held 250 officers and enlisted men. The Mahan was made by Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island, NY. It was laid down June 12, 1934, launched October 15, 1935, and commissioned September 18, 1936. It was in the Atlantic area from 1936 to mid-1937 when it was moved to the Pacific. The Mahan had several different armaments; it had five 5 inch/38 caliber guns suited for ground and aerial targets and three quadruple torpedo-tube mounts for twelve 21 inch guided torpedoes. While the Mahan survived quite a few battles, it was eventually taken down by three kamikaze attacks from the Japanese, causing the ship to explode. Destroyers rescued a few survivors; 6 men were missing and thirteen were badly injured with burns. Finally, a U.S. destroyer put an end to the Mahan with torpedoes because she couldn’t be salvaged.
U.S.S. Henderson: The U.S.S. Henderson (AP-1) was Vernon’s second ship, in between the U.S.S Mahan and the U.S.S. Pecos. The U.S.S. Henderson carried 1,500 men and 24 mules and served as a transport ship at first, but later became a hospital ship and was renamed to the U.S.S. Bountiful (AH-9). It was commissioned May 24, 1917, decommissioned October 13, 1943, recommissioned March 23, 1944 as the U.S.S. Bountiful, and finally decommissioned again on September 1946. It was 483 feet and 10 inches long, had a beam of 61 feet and 1 inch, and a draft of 16 feet and 2 inches. It held 12,400 long tons when full and could got up to 12 knots in speed.
U.S.S. Pecos:
Vernon was also stationed on the U.S.S. Pecos (AO-6), as an Electrician’s Mate Third Class. A Kanawha-class fleet replenishment oiler, the U.S.S. Pecos (AO-6) was the first of its namesake. Later the U.S.S. Pecos (T-AO-197) would come along. However, the U.S.S. Pecos (AO-6) will be referred to as the U.S.S. Pecos for simplicity. The U.S.S. Pecos was laid down on June 2, 1920, launched on April 23, 1921, and commissioned on August 25, 1921. Vernon joined the Pecos on May 9, 1940. It could go up to 14 knots and held up to 317 officers and enlisted members on board at a time. The ship's main job was to refuel American ships fighting back against Japan for the Pearl Harbor attack. During the actual attack of Pearl Harbor, Pecos was supporting ships of the Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines. Pecos was taken down by a bombing by a Japanese Aircraft called IJN Soryu on March 1, 1942.