Mertz, James M.

Description

He commanded Destroyer Escort USS Sturtevant DE 239 12 Nov. 1943 – 11 Sep. 1945 . World War II North Atlantic Operations. After shakedown in the vicinity of Bermuda and training off the Rhode Island coast, Sturtevant began 21 months of convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. On 24 September, she got underway to screen her first convoy to Casablanca and Gibraltar.

The commissioning executive officer, LCDR James M. Mertz, USNR, assumed command in November 1943 and remained in command through the end of the war. After two more such Atlantic crossings, she was assigned to Derry-bound convoys and made five voyages to that Northern Ireland port.

Sturtevant rounded out her Atlantic service with two convoys each to Liverpool, England, and Cardiff, Wales, and one to Southampton, England. Between crossings, the destroyer escort was repaired and overhauled at the New York Navy Yard and trained at Casco Bay, Maine, and at Montauk Point, Long Island. In all, Sturtevant made 13 successful round-trip voyages across the Atlantic and back. Lcdr. James M. Mertz served in the U. S. Navy 1939-1947.

James married Allegra Knapp Brickell on February 5, 1944, in Coconut Grove, Florida. They had five children during their marriage.

After his service, he was associated with Rising & Nelson Slate Co., West Pawlet, VT. An avid sailor, James was a member of American Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, Cruising Club of America, Storm Trysail Club, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, and Fort Worth Boat Club.

James holds the record for number of races sailed (30) in biennial Newport-Bermuda Races.

He was past Commodore of American Yacht Club, past Chairman of New York Yacht Club Race Committee, past President of Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, and past President of International 210 Class.

James McClenahan Mertz died on January 25, 2006, at the age of 94, and was buried in Disputanta, Virginia.

He was predeceased by his wife, Allegra Knapp Brickell Mertz. Survived by daughter, Allegra Mertz Torrey, Norwalk, CT; stepson, James B. Brickell, Jr., Sykesville, MD; granddaughters Kimberly Brickell Frank, Merdith Knapp Brickell and Diana Mertz Hsieh.

Funeral Services were held January 28, 2006 at Christ’s Church, Rye, NY.