Submariners ring to remember crews lost during WWII missions

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | 11/14/04 | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

USS Sculpin (SS-191)

USS SCAMP (SS-277)

USS CORVINA (SS-226)

USS CAPELIN (SS-289)

USS Bullhead (SS-332)

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Pan_Yan]

ping

[JOE43270]

They are not to ever be FORGOTTEN!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Lost, you say? I thought they were considered to be "still on patrol".

[cmsgop]

USS DORADO (Skipper) Earl Schneider and Crew RIP Hero's

[deaconjim]

Let's not forget the Scorpion and the Thresher.

[PA Engineer]

In Membory of my Uncle.

USS Pompano (SS-181)

[SandRat]

Hey, I don't write 'em I just post 'em.

And Yes they are on eternal Patrol.

[Doe Eyes]

Remember the Maine.

[freepersup]

A submariner group met at the local American Legion... I was a volunteer busing tables for the group... I belonged to the Legion (vet) and the local Jaycees org. that agreed to cater the meal... one by one the lost sub's names were read aloud followed by the number of lost crew... a bell sounded each time a sub was declared lost followed by the extinguishing of a candle located at each table... the last candle snuffed out left a banquet hall pitch black... very chilling, imparted a lasting impression on this vet and observer of a dignified memorial by remaining sea-mates

[PA Engineer]

Membory = Memory

[IonImplantGuru]

Thanks for posting this, SandRat! It was a great group of vets gathered yesterday in Tombstone - I was invited down there, but couldn't make it.

As a sub vet myself, I should note that the 'tolling of the lost boats' is not a 1-off Veterans Day deal. We do this every month, for boats lost during that month, at our sub vets meeting. This is done to maintain 'institutional memory' of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the WW II submarine force.

>50 subs and > 3,000 men were lost during the war, but we were able to 'take it to the enemy' while the fleet was being rebuilt after the devastation of Pearl Harbor.

As an aside, the submarine I first qualified (earned my dolphins) on was USS Scamp (SSN 588) which was named for the boat lost in WW II.

[dasboot]

BTTT....for dad (USS Jallao) and great-grandpa (unknown WWI U-boat). Family tradition.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

I know I shouldn't read articles like this because they always upset me. But I keep doing it. I still know very little about the Kursk because I can't bear to hear about it. And I know more than I want to about the Scorpion and the Thresher. It's tough to be a submariner's wife and think about your husband dying like that.

[SandRat]

Service wives are special, submariners wives, and SPECOPS are especially so.

[ezo4]

Just a post

Hi harvy - glad I knew ya when I did you were an inspiration and good pal. - to a Command Master Chief - out of Bangor, WA

[Sub-Driver]

Always on patrol....true heroes

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Thank you. But it's the men that calmly go into the depths of the murky, cold ocean because it's their job that really deserve admiration. I don't think I could do it and stay sane.

[Banjoguy]

These men and the sub service, in particular the Pacific submarine fleet, never rec'd the credit they deserved for kicking the stuffing out of the Japs. It was the Submariners who won that war by the relentless interdiction and destruction of supplies and troop transports.

You couldn't dream up the real life sagas lived by these men and their able commanders.

I lived in New London during the war and all of my folks were sub people. Even though I was very young, I remember my relatives, including my father, who worked at EB. One of my uncles was a pig boat sailor before serving on fleet boats. He retired as a chief torpedoman.

I have proud memories and despite appearing to glorify war, I am filled with admiration and envy when I read first hand accounts of the exploits of those submariners who served so valiantly. They were a unique bunch; brave, dedicated, and capable.