"During the period that I was operating from 8, September of 1941 until February 15th of 1946, I was at that point on 334 different ships, all types, the board was responsible for every new type of vessel.”

Captain Paul R. Des Jardins USNR

The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the April 2022 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of Captain Paul R. Des Jardins United States Navy Reserve Retired. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Captain Paul R. Des Jardins at the Vinson Hall Retirement Community in the Summer of 2010.

On a warm summer day in 2010, Captain Des Jardins met the Navy Memorial interview team at the Vinson Hall library. Proudly donning his uniform, he shared his World War Two memories for the betterment of current and future generations.

Paul Des Jardins was a proud graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Class of 1938 and always had a fondness for the sea. Following graduation, he worked at Worthington Manufactures and focused extensively on different engineering technologies which related to the structural and power systems found within naval vessels. With war clouds looming on the horizon, his desire to serve his country propelled him to actively pursue a commissioning in the United States Navy in January of 1941. After an extensive screening process, interviews, and physical examination in the Spring and Summer, he was commissioned as an officer.

In October of 1941, he received orders to report to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington D.C. This meeting would put him on a never imagined pathway and a once in a lifetime assignment.

After a successful meeting, Des Jardins then received orders to meet the President of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey. Upon meeting with the Admiral overseeing the Board of Inspection, he was assigned to a team that would evaluate and review all new Naval Vessels and Aircraft. The team would then determine if the new ships and aircraft met the standards of the Navy and would be accepted for service. Des Jardins specific role also included the review of all new manuals and evaluate their effectiveness before going into the hands of officers and sailors for use while at sea.

His service during the second World War not only focused on evaluating American fighting ships but also a French Destroyer, the Le Triomphant, French Submarine, the Surcauf with Sea Plane hangar, a captured German Raider, and Admiral Byrd's, USS Bear, which traveled to Antarctica.

In total, Des Jardins was credited with inspecting 334 newly constructed ships which included destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, landing craft, patrol craft, mine sweepers, oil tankers, repair craft and more. Many of these ships would continue service in the United States Navy throughout future wars and conflicts. Captain Paul R. Des Jardins would continue to service in the United States Navy before retiring in 1977.

Part One Graduating from the MIT Class of 1938 and Receiving a Navy Commission in 1941

Part Three Preparing New Destroyers for War Against the Japanese and Germans

Part Five Highlights of the Navy Board of Inspection and Memories of Le Triomphant, USS Bear, Admiral Byrd, a German Raider, and French Submarine Surcouf

Part Seven Serving Twenty One Months on Active Service for the Bureau of Ships and Preparing for the Korean War

Nine Delaying His Naval Retirement During the Cuban Missile Crisis and Final Service Memories

Part Two Service in the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey and New Destroyer Sea Trials

Part Four Service on 334 Different Ships From 1941 to 1946 and the Conclusion of the War

Part Six Returning to the Reserves After the War and Assignments with the United States Navy Department Bureau of Ships

Part Eight Reserve Service in New Jersey, the Brookhaven National Laboratories, and National Industrial College

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Captain Paul R. Des Jardins, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service

To view this interview please visit the Vinson Hall Veterans Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.