The Bayonne Naval Base was a strategic site for Naval vessels in World War 2. The administration of Mayor James J Donovan lobbied Naval Officials with trips to Washington, DC, outlining the advantages of this NY Harbor location. Their efforts were successful prevailing over those advanced by Brooklyn and New York officials. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox made trips to the site accompanied by other Navy officials and supported the selection of the Bayonne Naval Base. Also supporting the site selection was Governor Charles Edison (a former Navy secretary). Gladys Sinclair, in her Bayonne Memoirs book, sited the hard work of Mayor Donovan and his fellow administrators for their efforts. In 1942 the Naval Base was commissioned and thousands of Bayonne citizens were employed at the Base improving their economic conditions greatly .--Embryhills (talk) 20:26, 4 September 2012 (UTC)William J. Donovan Sept 4, 2012.