USS Grunion: Lost submarine found off Alaska

The Seattle P-I (Newspaper) ^ | 8/18/06 | RALPH RANALLI

[goldfinch]

Iwasaki's involvement changed everything, John Abele said Wednesday. Not only did the brothers have a place to look for their father's submarine, but they also had newfound friends from the other side of the war.

A little off the subject, but this statement stuck out to me. Both the Japanese and the Americans involved here recognize that the past is the past. That being on the opposite side in a horrible and bitter war does not mean you have to be on the opposite side forever. This is such a contrast from the Islamists who are still screaming about the Crusades and being driven out of Europe 500 years ago...kind of a moveon.org mentality...

[llevrok]

I agree. Boy those Wogs carry a grudge. Sheesh!

[VOA]

US Navy Historical Center profile:

http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g9/grunion.htm

[Wolfstar]

If I were Bush I would order the Navy to go out and investigate the site for God sakes. The Navy should be more then willing to bring closure to the loss of their own boat and crew from battle. This is just pathetic of the US Navy.

John Aberle, son of the Grunion's skipper. John Aberle is a BILLIONAIRE, who is funding the search himself, and who is not whining about the Navy the way you are, even though you have no personal link to the story. Sheesh! Of all the things in this world to complain about, your anti-Navy whine takes the cake.

[harpu]

"I think after the passage of 64 years we can pretty much confirm the fact the US Navy knows nothing. Now, what is holding them back from bringing closure to this lost sub and its crew? Nothing! It won't break them to send a explorer ship to confirm the sonar."

Spoken like a true McLaim Republican!

[Stoat]

UPDATE

FOXNews.com - Wreckage of World War II Submarine Found Off Aleutian Islands - Local News News Articles National News US News

[Jonah Hex]

The U.S.S. GRUNION?

Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.

- The Tempest, W. Shakespeare

Sleep easy, shipmates...

[llevrok]

amazing news!

Thanks to both for the update.

The Shakespeare citation was moving and said it so well.

[Stoat]

You’re quite welcome :-)

May all the Grunion’s brave sailors rest in peace and may their sacrifices never be forgotten.

[Stonewall Jackson]

One of the neat things about this whole story is that John Abele, who is now a multi-billionaire and the financier of this whole operation, has tasked the expedition to attempt to locate the two subchasers his father’s submarine sank, as well as a Japanese destroyer that was lost in the same area.

[colorado tanker]

ping

[stlnative]

RIP...

S1 Bernard J. Pickel
USS GRUNION (SS-216)

1942

Departing Hawaii 30 June after 10 days of intensive training, GRUNION touched Midway; then headed toward the Aleutians for her first war patrol. Her first report, made as she patrolled north of Kiska Island, stated she had been attacked by a Japanese destroyer and had fired at him with inconclusive results. She operated off Kiska throughout July and sank two enemy patrol boats while in search for enemy shipping. On 30 July the submarine reported intensive antisubmarine activity, and she was ordered back to Dutch Harbor.

GRUNION was never heard from nor seen again. Air searches off Kiska were fruitless; and on 5 October GRUNION was reluctantly reported overdue from patrol and assumed lost with all hands. Captured Japanese records show no antisubmarine attacks in the Kiska area, and the fate of GRUNION remains a mystery. Her name was struck from the Navy List 2 November 1942.

LCDR(CO) Mannert L. Abele

SM3 Frank E. Alexander

SM3 Daniel E. Allen

MA2 Herbert J. Arvan

MoMMC Paul E. Banes

MoMMC Leo J.I. Bedard

RM3 Wesley H. Blinston

S1 Nicholas R. Bonadies

EM3 Robert F. Boo

MM1 Chester L. Bouvia

EMC George E. Caldwell

S2 Richard H. Carroll

TM2 John S. Clift

F2 Michael F. Collins

MoMM1 Lee D. Cooksey

MoMMC Daniel Cullinane

ENS W.H. CuthbertsonJr.

S2 Lawrence D. Deaton

TMC Albert E. DeStoop

S2 William P. DevaneyJr.

LT(jg) Samuel R. DightonJr.

RM2 Louis H. DoellJr.

GM1 Samuel A. T empleton

S1 Leon H. Franck

TMC Merritt D. Graham

S2 Kenneth E. Hall

EM3 Ernest G. Helensmith

TM3 Hollice B. Henderson

MoMM2 Sylvester J. Kennedy

S2 Edward E. KnowlesJr.

TM1 Lawrence R. Kockler

LT(jg) William G. Kornahrens

YNC Moore J. Ledford

EM1 Woodrow W. Lehman

MoMM2 Sidney A. Loe

EM2 Samuel LunsfordJr.

F1 J.W. Lyon

MoMMC Carson R. Martin

EM1 Thomas E. Martin

EM1 Ryder Mathison

TM3 Richard G. McCutcheon

LT John M. McMahon

F2 E.C. Miller

F1 David O. Myers

MoMM2 Frank T. Nave

RM1 Arthur G. Newcomb

MoMM1 John W. Nobles

MoMM2 Jack E. Pancoast

TM3 Carmine A. Parziale

MA2 Cornelius PaulJr.

S1 Bernard J. Pickel

S2 Arnold C. Post

RM2 William H. Randall

S2 Loyal RyanJr.

MoMM1 Howard A. Sanders

QMC Elmer T. Schumann

PhM1 Paul P. Sullivan

SC1 Steven Surfchek

S2 David N. Swartwood

LT(XO) Millener W. Thomas

S2 Byron A. Traviss

S1 Albert Ullmann

F3 Marshall F. VanVoggelum

F3 Melvin H. Walter

EM2 Raymond E. Webster

FC2 Donald F. Welch

TM2 John H. Wells

SC3 John E. WilsonJr.

F2 Ralph J. Youngman