The unexpected discovery of a notebook within a piece of furniture in Massachusetts unveiled a valuable historical artifact: a logbook detailing the voyages of the USS Amesbury, a U.S. Navy destroyer, during World War II. Despite its connection to the sunken USS Amesbury off the coast of Florida, the logbook has been preserved in excellent condition, as seen in images shared online.

The logbook, bound in a hardcover with lined pages, captures the destroyer’s operations from June 13, 1944, to May 31, 1945. It includes multiple transatlantic crossings and details stops in various cities including New York, Key West, Philadelphia, Annapolis, as well as Panama and the United Kingdom.

The notebook was found by Brenda O'Keefe of Massachusetts, tucked away in an old piece of furniture. The discovery was highlighted by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in a Facebook post, which included photographs of the log and its cover. The author of the log remains unknown, but the entries provide a detailed account of the Amesbury's significant activities and movements during the war.

An intriguing entry from April 7, 1945, mistakenly notes the end of the war with Germany, which officially occurred a month later. This entry is among the many that document the critical role played by the Amesbury, which was commissioned in 1943 as a convoy escort. Throughout the war, it completed several crucial missions between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, making stops in Londonderry and Lishally in Ireland, and Greenock in Scotland. The ship was awarded a battle star for its service off Normandy beach in France.

After the war, in 1946, the Amesbury was decommissioned and placed in reserve. Later, it was towed out to sea to be used as an artificial reef but tragically broke apart during a storm before it could be submerged. The wreckage now rests about five miles off Key West at a depth of 25 feet and is known as Alexander's Wreck. This site has become a favored destination for divers, adding another layer to the ship's storied past.

This logbook not only offers a glimpse into the daily operations of a World War II naval ship but also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable journeys of wartime artifacts. Its discovery enriches our collective memory, bridging the past with present-day historical interests and providing an intimate look at the life of a ship that served with distinction during a critical time in history.