OTD in 1943, Schuylerville-native Ruff was on USS Tennessee

#onthisday in 1943, Schuylerville-native, US Navy Lt. Commander Lawrence Ruff was listed on a report of Change in Officers on the Battleship USS Tennessee.  * The USS Tennessee (BB-43) the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 16th US state. She was commissioned in 1920, and most notable for her service in World War II. She was present on Battleship Row during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was damaged by Japanese bombs. Returning to duty in 1943, she saw service in the Pacific War, first supporting the Aleutian Islands Campaign.  This was the period when Ruff joined the ship. Then Tennessee’s next mission was to support the attack of Betio in the Battle of Tarawa. From 20–23 November 1943, the main fighting went on, supported by Tennessee’s guns. Tennessee also joined other ships in the sinking of Japanese submarine I-35. At dusk on 3 December, Tennessee departed the area for Pearl Harbor and then San Francisco.* Lawrence E. Ruff was a career Naval officer that served as navigator of the battleship USS Nevada during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.  * Ruff was born to born 7 July 1905 in Troy to William G (Apr 1867 – 26 Nov 1936) and Josephine Bott (5 May 1866 – 2 Sept 1947). He was the youngest of 9 and grew up on Green Street in Schuylerville.  He was third generation American with his grandparents born in Germany. Ruff’s father was a merchant of seed and flour.* Learn more and see more photos at ______________________