ACR-13 USS Montana / USS Missoula
Length: 504 feet 5 inches. Breadth: 72 feet 10 1/2 inches. Mean Draft: 25 feet. Displacement: 14,500 tons normal, 15,981 tons full load. Machinery: 28,600 IHP; Babcock boiliers, 2 sets of 4-cylinder, Triple Expansion Engines, 2 screws, outward turning. Speed: 22.16 knots. Coal Bunker Capacity: 900 tons normal, 1,992 tons maximum. Batteries: Main Battery: four 10-inch, 40 cal. breech-loading rifles, sixteen 6-inch, 50 cal. rapid fire guns. Secondary Battery: twenty-two 3-inch, 50 cal. rapid fire guns, two 3-inch antiaircraft, four 3 pdr. saluting guns, two 3-inch field pieces, six automatic guns, caliber .30, four 21-inch submerged torpedo tubes. Armor: Belt, 3 to 5 inches; turrets, 5-9-inches; barbettes, 5-inches; deck, 3 inches; Conning Tower, 9 inches. Complement: 41 officers, 850 men (921 as flagship). Built by: Newport News Ship Builders, Newport News VA Class: Tennessee
The first USS Montana (ACR-13), also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 13", later renamed Missoula and designated CA-13, was an armored cruiser of the United States Navy, a sister-ship of North Carolina (ACR-12).
She was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia, 29 April 1905, launched 15 December 1906, sponsored by Miss Minnie Conrad, and commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard 21 July 1908, Capt. Alfred Reynolds in command.
The unfinished hull of the USS Montana circa shown as she slides into the water for the first time on December 15 1906 at the Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Virginia.
Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Montana departed Norfolk 5 August to cruise off the east coast until 25 January 1909 when she sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, for the Caribbean, arriving off Colon, Panama, the 29th. While operating with the Special Service Squadron, Montana departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2 April for the Mediterranean to protect American interests during the aftermath of the Turkish Revolution of 1908. Leaving Gibraltar 23 July, she arrived Boston on 3 August, and resumed east coast operations.
This photo was taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard on October 8, 1909, while visitors were aboard. Nice view of the Bridge and forward 10-inch guns. Each time they are fired each gun takes 365-pounds of powder and the projectile weighs 850-pounds. The total charge for one gun is 1,215 pounds.
On 8 April 1910 the armored cruiser sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to take part in the Argentine Centennial Celebration, calling at Uruguay, Argentina, and finally Brazil before heading for home 30 June, arriving Hampton Roads 22 July. Montana left Charleston, with President Taft and his party embarked, 10 November for a visit to Panama, returning her passengers to Hampton Roads, 22 November.
Montana was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet 26 July 1911 for major overhaul at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, until 11 November 1912. In December, she departed on a second trip to the Near East, stopping at Beirut, Alexandretta (now Iskenderun) and Mersin, Turkey. Returning to the United States in June 1913, Montana operated off the east coast and made training cruises to Mexico, Cuba, and Haiti until the United States entered World War I.
The Montana getting up steam in Mexican Waters on May 3, 1914. She has on board the bodies of the sailors killed in the capture of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
During the first months of the war, Montana conducted training exercises and transported supplies and men in the York River area and along the east coast. Assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force 17 July 1917, she did convoy and escort duty out of Hampton Roads; New York, New York; and Halifax, Nova Scotia, through most of 1917 and 1918. The armored cruiser also performed as a Naval Academy practice ship in the Chesapeake Bay area early in 1918. With Captain George Day in command Montana was ordered to France in December 1918, to return troops to America. And between January and July 1919, Montana made six round trips from Europe, returning 8,800 American troops.
Upon completion of her duties returning troops from France Montana was ordered to the Pacific Fleet Following her arrival at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, Montana remained there from 16 August 1919 through her decommissioning 2 February 1921. On 7 June 1920 Montana was renamed Missoula for Missoula, Montana and classified CA-13. She was struck from the Navy list 15 July 1930 and sold to John Irwin, Jr., 29 September 1930. In October 1935 the armored cruiser was scrapped in accordance with the London Treaty for the reduction of naval armament.
Ships Muster
As I find names of men who sailed this ship I will add them here with what I know of each. If you know additional facts about these men or others who were crew of the USS Montana/ USS Missoula please e-mail them to: Joe Hartwell
Richard Paul DesLauriers, F3c
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Dorothy Dickson who is the daughter of Richard P. DesLauriers relates about her father, "He signed on to be a second-class seaman and they put him in fireman position. Guess he did not like it or his mom and dad wanted him out. He was actually only 17 as his birthday was 1901 and not 1900. He told us he lied to get in and his mom signed for him. Maybe she changed her mind as she had already lost a child unrelated to war." Richard Paul DesLauriers was born on January 16, 1901 in Kankakee, Illinois into a large farm family. During the First World War, Richard like most young boys still in high school, dreamed about serving in the military for his Country in a far off place in a grand adventure. This feeling was so great for Richard or “Dick” as he was sometimes known, talked to his mother until she agreed to sign the papers and let him go, only if he promised to return and finish his high school education. And so on June 24, 1918 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago, Richard was enlisted into the Navy as a Apprentice Seaman, given his service number of 131-03-13 and his uniform and began his training. Once completed on October 28, 1918 he was sent to the Naval Training Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia where he stayed until November 9, 1918 where he was assigned to the Armored Cruiser USS Montana. He made at least one trip to France during his time aboard as noted in several letters he wrote home to family. |
On January 14, 1919 and Examination Report aboard the Montana found Seaman DesLauriers qualified for a rating of Fireman 3rd Class. But while on board Richard being only 18 at the time, may have started to feel that he wanted to leave the navy and return home as on November 22, 1918 while aboard ship he wrote the following request for discharge.
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“I wish to finish my remaining semester in high school and take up a course at a University. My help at the present time is needed at home, as my brother is a cripple and is no help to the large family.” F3c DesLauriers, Richard P. |
As it was his current enrollment was to expire on June 23, 1922. He may have been feeling that the great adventure he was dreaming of was not what he thought it was. This may have been added to from his mother, Eustace, at home who on December 1, 1918 wrote to the Bureau of Navigation in Washington D.C. asking about the health of her son. In the letter she stated:
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I am writing to ask your kind assistance in ascertaining the condition of health of one Richard Paul DesLauriers, now on duty as Fireman aboard the USS Montana, 10th Naval Division, whose mail is being sent in care of the Postmaster, New York City. This lad is 18-years of age, was originally enlisted at Great Lakes as Seaman, but was drafted to Fireman service and shipped to sea before fully regaining his normal health and weight, after a severe case of Influenza. Mail was last received from him on November 30, after being 8-days out, which stated his health was very poor, being greatly troubled with weak back and kidneys (results of Influenza). Since that time, of course, no word has been received from him and great anxiety as to his condition is felt by me. I would very much appreciate it if you could give me an official report of his condition, as it will probably be some time before news can be received from him, by letter. Eustace DesLauriers |
On December 2, 1918 the Navy Department sent a message to the USS Montana in which the following was transmitted:
| “Richard P. DesLauriers. Mother Ill. Can you come home. Answer and will wire you money. Father. Kankakee, IL.” |
And yet again the Navy Department sent a second dispatch to the USS Montana with this message:
| “Richard P. DesLauriers. Your mother has nervous presentation. Necessary for you to come home. Joseph A. Guertin M.D. Kankakee, IL” |
It seemed the family was so desperate to get Richard discharged from the navy that they went all the way to the U. S. House of Representatives, to Congressmen James R. Mann. It was on January 7, 1919 that he wrote the following letter to Admiral Victor Blue, Chief, Bureau of Navigation in Washington D.C.
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Dear Admiral Blue, The case referred to in the enclosed letter and affidavits seems to be one where the discharge of the young man is especially urgent. I, therefore, beg to call the matter to your attention in hope that it may be found practable to release Richard P. DesLauriers now a fireman on the USS Montana. Yours Truly |
On the receipt of the letter from Congressmen James R. Mann the Navy Department sent a dispatch on January 18, 1919 to Captain George Day of the Montana requesting an official report in writing as to the physical condition of Fireman DesLauriers. On January 22, 1919 Captain Day returned with this report from the Montana then at Pier 2, Hoboken, NJ:
| DesLauriers, Richard P. 1310313, F3c, USNRF was examined by the Medical Officer of this vessel this date and his health and physique were found to be in excellent condition. He is found physically qualified to continue his duties. Signed Captain George Day |
This was relayed to Richard’s mother on January 27, 1919 in the form of a letter. These efforts were unsuccessful in getting Richard discharged from the navy, and matters were then taken to Richard’s uncle. He was Charles A. Bonniwell a member of the Order of Washington, whose organization was under the command of Rear Admiral Charles H. Stockton, USN Ret. Mr. Bonniwell was the Deputy Vice Commander of the State of Indiana. This is the letter Mr. Bonniwell wrote to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on December 16, 1918:
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Mr. Secretary, Sir, The writer’s nephew, Richard DesLauriers, of Kankakee, Illinois, enlisted in the United States Navy at the Great Lakes, as a second-class seaman some six or seven months ago. He had not completed his high school education, but was so anxious to serve his country and though but 18 years of age, his mother willingly gave her permission, that he do so with the understanding that he was to complete his studies immediately after the war. Your particular attention is called to the fact that he enlisted as a second-class seaman. In the face of what he signed up for, he was drafted in as a fireman and as I term it, “shanghaied” into this branch of the service. Further, he had at the time, just recovered from a very severe attack of Influenza and was out of the hospital less than a month when he was placed in an outgoing fireman draft. Now though he had enlisted as a second-class seaman, he was perfectly willing to serve his country in any way that his superiors directed, believing that in so doing he would not jeopardize his chances of an honorable discharge from service because of this fact. In conformance with your published statement that it was the desire of the government to have all students who had not completed their education, to return to school, his mother secured a certificate from the principal of the high school he attended, attesting to the fact that he had not completed his studies and forwarded it on to him to file with his request for discharge. He filed it with his request for discharge, but this has been denied him by his commanding officer though for what reason, we are unable to ascertain except that they are short of firemen and it has been impossible to get a sufficient number of men to carry on this work. Now, to the writer, this is where the gross injustice comes in. Is this young man to be penalized for his patriotism in accepting this work, while thousands of others who enlisted as second-class seamen after him and remained in this branch of the service, are being discharged from the service? He is a member of the crew of the USS Montana, which I understand leaves for France on the 21st and will not return for some thirty days. Would it not be possible to arrange for his discharge immediately upon the return of this ship in order that he may take up his studies at the commencement of the January period and so complete his education without any additional burdens upon his parents or himself? May I have the honor of being advised as to what further action may be necessary to see that justice is accorded this young man? Very Respectfully yours, |
Richard’s last day on the Montana was August 23, 1919 and was sent back to great lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago where on August 27, 1919 he was officially discharged from active service with the Navy.
When Richard first reported aboard the Montana he had time to write to his mother and tell her how things were. This is his letter to her written on November 10, 1918.
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Dear Mother, Well mother I am no longer a dry land sailor. I am aboard the USS Montana, a First Class Battle Cruiser. It is a nice ship and I like it fine tho I do not know anything about my work, as I have not been on work yet. I left the base yesterday afternoon and came directly aboard ship. Things are not new; in fact it is an old tub. I found that out from fellows who know. I sure hope we make more trips across, as I would hate to come home with out doing so. When you write address the letter: Send me Pete Peters address, as [unreadable] here as in camp but that is to be expected. You will not hear from me very often now. When we are at sea there is no way to send or receive mail. The ship I am on is has made the most trips across the pond. The ship Miller is on does not do any overseas work at all and is only a training ship. There is not much news now but will write as often as possible. If you want to send anything send some candy, as only that sort of stuff would keep. Send some chocolates and pack in a small strong box. Write soon, |
While the Montana was in the harbor in Brest, France Richard had a chance to explore a French city and see some sights he may have never seen before. This, for a farm boy from the farm country was most likely very eye opening. This is the letter he wrote his dad on the last day of December 1918.
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Dec. 31, 1918 As I have a few minutes to write before turning in I thought I would write and tell you something about Brest. I went ashore for a few hours tho I did not have a penny, and roamed around the streets of Brest. France is about a hundred years behind the U.S.A. and sure is a dirty hole at least Brest is. The streets a very narrow and muddy, the sidewalks are only three feet wide so if you want to get anywhere you have to take to the street. The town is closed up until 6:30 in the evening and we only get liberty till 5:30 so you see how wild everything is here. If they gave the gobs overnight they would clean the town out for they get on some awful drunks as it is and talk about fight, the frogs all clear out when the Yankee gobs get started. Two thirds of the ships company are under the seas tonight for those who did not go ashore got drunk on shellac, the place is a mad house tonight especially my mess they throw plates and food at one another and at last it ended in a fight in which two gobs got broken noses. They were a chum of [unreadable] and myself. I got one heck of a wallop, which tore loose the cartilage in the lower front of my nose and cut my upper lip pretty bad. I also had the sleeve of my sweater, which you sent me, tore pretty bad but the tailor said he could fix it so it could not be noticed. The way it happened was like this, a big Swede, fine man, hit me in the side of the head, I took a big swing at him but misses him a mile and caught my sleeve in the wire spring on one of the bunks, he then broke my nose and tore my sleeve all in one concentrated effort. I can’t remember much after that only my nose feels like a boil now and my front teeth ache. Brest is a very immoral place, the girls all of a very low type, they sell immoral pictures and sing at the same counter with holy pictures. If a merchant in Kankakee were to put such pictures on his counter for sale he would send the rest of his life in pen. The street cars in Brest are a joke, worse then those in Kankakee for size, they must hold about ten people I guess. I saw a few German subs in the harbor cruising about flying the French flag with the German flag under it. There are at least 12 U. S. warships and transports in harbor now all loaded with troops homeward bound. We take our troops aboard on the 3rd or 4th and leave for the good old U.S.A. on the 5th, we will arrive on the 17th the day after my birthday so you see I will be 18 before I get back to the States. Well Dad how was Xmas at the DesLauriers house anyway? It was fair aboard the “old Monty” 1600 miles at sea but I sure that it of home for I had to serve the dinner instead of eating it so it was not much fun in fact it was hard work for it was one hell of a big dinner just like we had Thanksgiving. I have a big one to serve tomorrow. New Years. Well give my love to all and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do and I will be, As ever |
Richard DesLauriers is on the left in both photos.
Frieman First Class, Carl Henry Meier
The following narrative was written by Stephen P. Meier, the son of Carl Meier.Carl Henry Meier was born in Richmond, Indiana on April 25, 1899. He was the first child of Ellen (Boland) Meier and John C. F. Meier. He had a brother, William, and a sister Mary. Their father died in 1909. Carl left St. Mary’s grade school after the 8th grade to find work to help support his mother, brother, and sister. He worked at many odd jobs. At the age of 15 he worked as an apprentice to the metallurgist of the Maxwell Automobile Company in New Castle, Indiana. He also worked at a men’s clothing store in Richmond.
On April 13, 1917 dad joined the Navy and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Station for training before being assigned to the USS Montana as a fireman. During World War I, the Montana was primarily used as a convoy escort between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Brest, France. After the war he volunteered to travel on the Montana through the Panama Canal to San Diego where it joined the pacific fleet. He left the Montana at Bremerton, Washington and returned to Richmond by way of The Great Lakes Naval Station where he received his Honorable Discharge. (He received a travel allowance of $ .05 per mile for 228 miles, or $11.40).
Upon his return to Richmond, he again worked at various odd jobs and finally started working as a plumber. However when the depression started there was very little work, so he served on the Richmond police force for a short period of time, but when times got better he returned to plumbing and started his own business which he ran until his retirement.
In 1926 he married Johanna E. Shinn. They had three children: Carl, Jr., Barbara, and myself, Patrick. On November 2, 1929 tragedy struck the Meier family when their oldest child, Carl, Jr., was hit by a truck and died a few hours later. My mother, Johanna, died suddenly on January 21, 1972. Dad stayed in the old house for a few years, but his health was failing and he moved to Colorado to live with my sister Barbara. The last years of his life were spent in the VA Nursing Home system in Colorado and in Texas. (Barbara was a VA nurse).
Dad died at the VA Medical Center in Kerrville, Texas on February 26, 1986 at the age of 85 years and 10 months. He was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana.
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