Looking for info on John T. Desmond seaman on the USS Thatcher DD514 my father

Question

Would appreciate help in filling in the blanks about our father' John T. Desmond's service on USS THATCHER DD514. I believe he was injured in a battle attack and medically discharged.

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II · Answer

RichDesmond 
 Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 
 We recommend beginning your research by requesting your father's military personnel records. Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. Below is a GSA Standard Form 180 which you should complete and mail to NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. Or you may apply online on our Request Military Service Records webpage. 
 
 To submit a request via Postal Mail please use the Standard Form 180 (SF-180): Request Pertaining to Military Records to submit your request. 
 
 For the most complete copy of a personnel file, in Section II, on the line for "Other" (Specify), write "Complete copy of every page of personnel file - not an extract." 
 
 For information regarding access to medical records please visit our Access to Clinical and Medical Treatment Records by the General Public webpage. 
 
 For more information concerning our military holdings please visit our Military and Veterans Research and Resources at the National Archives webpage. 
 
 Additionally, you may consider reviewing the U.S. Navy World War 2 era Muster Rolls. As part of our on-going commitment to preserve our records, the National Archives has entered into partnership with Ancestry.com to digitize some of NARA's holdings. Digitized records include Muster Rolls/Personnel Diaries (crew rosters) of U.S. Naval Ships and Stations for the dates of January 1,1941 thru January 1, 1963. These records are now available in digital form and can be viewed online via http://www.ancestry.com . There may be a fee for this service. Or you may view these records online at one of NARA's facilities for free via ALIC. For the nearest NARA location, please consult our web page at http://www.archives.gov/locations/ . Additionally, you may check with your local public or university library as these institutions often provide access to Ancestry.com. 
 
 We hope this assists you with your research! 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) 
 RR2RR 24-33795-JAH