Free Republic

Sailor buddies don't get much tighter than Leyman Dennis and W.E. “Charlie” Russell. In the summer of 1944, their commander offered them a choice: One could stay on the Swordfish with a fast track to promotion, while the other could head to New London, Conn., to help build and commission new submarines. The pals, both 24 and first class petty officers, flipped a coin. Dennis lost and landed in New London. Russell won and went to sea. Russell never came back. On Jan. 12, 1945, the Swordfish and its 89-member crew disappeared near Okinawa, perhaps sunk by a floating mine...