First day cover for the U.S.S WARD

first day cover

First day cover for the U.S.S. WARD (DD-139, built 1918), destroyer; front of envelope has cachet in green and black ink, features U.S.S. WARD underway with clouds in background, chain forms border, printed on left "First Day Postal Service/ U.SS. WARD/ DESTROYER 139/ RECOMMISSIONED"; stamp on right features portrait of Nathan Hale, printed on stamp "UNITED STATES POSTAGE/ NATHAN HALE/ 1/2 CENT 1/2"; stamp postmarked "U.S.S. WARD/ MAR/ 31/ 1941/ REGISTERED"; stamped on back "SUNK". The U.S.S. WARD sank an enemy submarine, firing the first shot of the war during the attack on Pearl Harbor (see correspondence file).