MONSSEN DD 798

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Fletcher Class Destroyer Keel Laid 1 June 1943 - Launched 30 October 1943 USS MONSSEN DD-798 Commissioned 14 February 1944 - Decommissioned 30 April 1946 Recommissioned 31 October 1951 - Decommissioned 11 December 1957 Struck from Naval Register 1 February 1963 Sold 21 October 1963 and broken up for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Monssen DD-798 Covers Page 1     (1943-1955)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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2nd Commissioning 31 October 1951 to 11 December 1957

 

Locy Type FDPS 2

1951-11-28

First Day of Postal Service

 

Locy Type 2

1952-01-30

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1954-10-04

Returning from Korea duty with 7th Fleet. From the Rich Hoffner collection.

 

Other Information

USS MONSSEN earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ eight battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Lieutenant Mons Monssen, USN (20 January 1867 - 10 February 1930).
Mons Monssen was born at Bergen, Norway. He enlisted in the United States Navy in about 1890 and by 1904 had risen in rank to Chief Gunner's Mate. On 13 April 1904, while he was serving in the battleship Missouri, the ship suffered a tragic fire in her after twelve-inch gun turret that killed 36 of her crew. Chief Monssen entered the burning powder magazine below the turret and fought the blaze by throwing water on it until a hose was passed to him. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this act of heroism and a month later was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer. Gunner Monssen served in USS Yankee and USS Iowa during the next three years. He was then stationed ashore in the New York area before returning to sea between 1909 and 1912 in the battleship USS Connecticut. Promoted to Chief Gunner in 1910 and commissioned in the rank of Lieutenant in 1918, his subsequent assignments were all in shore stations, including the New York Navy Yard during 1910-1914 and 1918-1924; the Naval Stations at Cavite and Olongapo, Philippine Islands, in 1914-1917; and the Naval Mine depot at New London, Connecticut, in 1924-1925. He retired from active duty in December 1925 and made his home in Brooklyn, New York. Lieutenant Mons Monssen died at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital on 10 February 1930.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Mons Monssen.

The US Navy has named two ships in his honor - USS Monssen DD-436 and USS Monssen DD-798.

 

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