After the battle, the Pecos proceeded to Tjilatjap, where she remained to fuel warships of the United States, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.

After missing the entry of the Japanese at Keopang, Dutch East Indies, by five hours, the Pecos went to Soerabaja and was nearby when USS Houston and USS Marblehead were hit by Japanese bombs. His ship was in Manila on 7 December 1941, but left the night of 8 December for Darwin, Australia. In July 1940 he was ordered to the Orient, where he assumed command of USS Pecos, Asiatic Fleet tanker. His tours of shore duty prior to World War II were as aide to the Commandant of the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Naval Districts at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island and as inspector of guns at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC.

For two years he was flag lieutenant on the staff of Commander, Cruiser Division 4, USS Northampton, flagship, and from May 1937 to May 1938 he served as communications officer of USS Maryland. Sea duty prior to World War II included service aboard the destroyers Reuben James and Greer, the battleship New York and the cruiser Salt Lake City. He returned to the United States aboard USS Goff, and proceeded to Newport, Rhode Island, where he had instruction at the Torpedo School. Thereafter he made a cruise in the destroyer Parrot, on duty with the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, cruising to Southern Russian ports, and was present at the burning of Smyrna in September 1922. Graduated from the Naval Academy and commissioned Ensign in June 1921, he subsequently advanced through the grades to that of Captain, to rank from 21 June 1942.įollowing graduation in June 1921, Captain Abernethy was ordered to duty aboard the battleship New York, then serving in the Pacific. He had World War I service during the summer of 1918 as a Midshipman aboard USS Missouri.

Captain Abernethy, born 14 June 1899, at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was graduated from the Oklahoma City High School before entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from his native state, in June 1917.

Uss missouri world of warships captain