Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding aid (Word)

Biographical Note

John Hein was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on 21 September 1907.

He enlisted in the Navy in November 1926. By 1938, Hein had risen to the rating of SM1/c, and in April of that year was appointed a Warrant Officer as a Boatswain.

While serving on USS Tern in 1940, Hein was recommended for commissioning. He served as a commissioned officer until February 1957, when he retired with the rank of Commander. During this time, Hein was attached to a number of sea and shore commands, including duty on the staff of Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier, command of USS Moctobi and Sussex, and as Officer in Charge of the Butte, Montana Recruiting District.

Scope and Content Note

The Papers of Commander John Hein document his thirty years of Navy service as an enlisted man, warrant officer, and commissioned officer. Though materials from his early career are included, the bulk of the collection dates from 1947 to 1957, during his commissioned service. The collection is organized in three series.

Series I consists of correspondence written between 1936-1957. Both official and unofficial documents are present, and the series includes incoming as well as outgoing letters. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order.

Series II holds messages dating from 1936-1947. These are chiefly position and fuel reports and other routine communications relating to the operation of USS Moctobi during 1947. Also included are messages relating to submarine S-40. The messages are arranged chronologically.

Series III consists of miscellaneous items. Included in this series are officer data cards and personnel records documenting Hein’s service; procedural and organizational guidelines on courts martial, USS Munsee, and the reserve force of the San Francisco Police Department; inventory and leave of absence reports; testimony regarding an accidental shooting on USS Sussex; photographs; and memorabilia. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Series IV holds six wire recordings. One is a recording of a speech by Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. The remaining five are unidentified.

Restrictions Note

The wire recordings in Series IV are not available for research. If possible, the recordings will be converted to a modern audio format for reference purposes.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Papers of John Hein, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

United States. Navy--Petty officers.
United States. Navy--Warrant officers.
United States. Navy--Officers.
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American.
Moctobi (Tug : ATF-105)
Sussex (Cargo ship : AK-213)
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry--United States.
Sailors--United States--Photographs.
Women sailors--United States--Photographs.