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Max Silverstein was born in Chicago, Ill., on 15 February 1911 and was appointed midshipman at the Naval Academy on 18 June 1928. He was commissioned ensign on 2 June 1932 and went to sea in Chester (CA 27) on the 26th as an aircraft gunnery observer. He was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on 2 June 1935 and subsequently served in Chaumont (AP 45), Tattnall (DD 125), and Seattle (CA 11). After being promoted to lieutenant on 13 March 1940, later changed to date from 1 August 1939, Lt. Silverstein reported for duty as Engineer and Damage Control Officer in Sims (DD 409). On 7 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, Sims came under aerial attack. Though knocked unconscious by the first bomb, Lt. Silverstein quickly recovered and "coolly directed the securing of the boilers, the jettisoning of topside weights to preserve stability and the preparations for repairs to save the vessel from sinking." Lt. Silverstein died soon thereafter when Sims sank. For "his relentless determination and inspiring heroism . . . ," Lt. Silverstein was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal and the Purple Heart.
USS Silverstein (DE 534) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
(Photo from the US Naval Academy Yearbook; The Lucky Bag, Class of 1932.) |
Bill Gonyo |
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Alfred F. McDonald GM2c 51-52 |
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Ronald W. (Fett) West |
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Photo was taken when Silverstein was part of a flotilla of ships involved in a series of 17 tests of A-bomb and H-bomb devices, under the code name of "Redwing." |
John W. Smith / EM3 USN 1954 - 1957 |
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Page from Silverstein's Scrapping Booklet showing her laid up in storage. |
Ed Zajkowski and Tim Rizzuto |
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Page 11 from Silverstein's Scrapping Booklet designating which items have to be demilitarized. |