Aunt Virginia's Second Husband

Thomas Stevens (1940)

Chief Water Tender, U.S. Navy (1909-1943)

Thomas Stevens was born May 14, 1909 in Youngstown, Ohio.  On January 27, 1928, he

enlisted in the United States Navy for four years.  He re-enlisted in 1932 and again in

1936, rising through the ranks to eventually achieve the highest enlisted grade of Chief

Water Tender.  During his fifteen year Navy career, Tom served aboard thirteen ships:

the USS Arizona, USS Nevada, USS West Virginia, USS Swallow, USS Sunnadin, USS

Argonne, USS Mississippi, USS Brooks, USS Capella, USS Arkansas, USS Babbitt, USS

Hamilton, and the USS Maddox.  Records reflect that he was previously married to one

Anna Stevens of King County, Washington, that union having ended in divorce.  Tom and

Virginia Vincent (nee Kaczmarek) were married on July 27, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York.

Much later in her life, Virginia often reflected that she and Tom were kindred spirits --

a perfect match -- and that their marriage resulted in three of the happiest years of her

life.  According to her, Tom had a warm and generous nature and nurtured a loving home

environment for her two daughters.  Tragically, Tom died at sea during World War II

when his ship, the USS Maddox, was sunk off the coast of Sicily in July of 1943.