Captain Riefkohl wrote in an epitaph: "The magnificent Vincennes, which we were all so proud of, and which I had the honor to command since 23 April 1941, rolled over and then sank at about 0250, 9 August 1942, about 2 1/2 miles east of Savo Island . . .(sic) Solomons Group, in some 500 fathoms of water."
Rear Admiral FrederickLoisRiefkohl (February 27, 1889 – September, 1969) was a Navy admiral who was born in Puerto Rico; he died in Brevard, Florida.
He was Captain of the USS Vincennes during World War II, when in 1942 it was sunk by Japanese forces in battle off the Solomon Islands.
Rear Admiral Riefkohl wrote in an epitaph: "The magnificent Vincennes, which we were all so proud of, and which I had the honor to command since 23 April 1941, rolled over and then sank at about 0250, 9 August1942, about 2 1/2 miles [5 km] east of Savo Island.