The Final Resting Place of a Submarine
Email"Overdue and Presumed Lost." In World War II those were the most feared — and perhaps also most ambiguous — words the families of a submarine crew could hear. On July 30, 1942, the USS Grunion was in the Aleutian Islands of southwestern Alaska. It was a new submarine on its very first war patrol. It reported "heavy antisubmarine activity," was sent orders to head for the port of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and was never heard from again. On August 16 it was listed as overdue and presumed lost. 70 crew members died. And that would have been, as in too many other cases, the final, desperately sad end to the story, if not for the determination of some of the crew’s children — in particular, the sons of the Grunion’s commanding officer. Lt. Commander Mannert Abele left behind three boys, Bruce, Brad and John, and they decided to search for the Grunion. Unlike most other families, they had the means to mount a search on their own; John Abele was co-founder of Boston Scientific, a well-known maker of medical devices. The brothers did extensive research, talked to Japanese naval historians, and organized search expeditions. In 2006, using side-scan sonar, they located a wreck a mile down, off the island of Kiska, Alaska. Now the Pacific Command of the U.S. Navy has put out word confirming it is the Grunion. "We hope this announcement will help to give closure to the families of the 70 crewmen of Grunion,” said Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny, Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet, in a statement. But, of course, closure can be elusive. Brad Abele has passed away since the find was made. The Grunion was probably sunk by fire from a Japanese ship, but the Navy says it cannot confirm what happened. The wreck, like many others, will remain on the ocean floor. The Naval Historical Center put out a statement that said in part, “no amount of analysis or speculation will change or alter the fact that families lost fathers, husbands, uncles and brothers…the Navy and the nation will always be grateful for their service and their sacrifice.” (Photo above, of the USS Grunion in 1942, courtesy U.S. Navy.)
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Rest in peace my friends.
The Japanese paid for there mistakes.
Ken
Posted by: whitelightning | October 3, 2008, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Amazing feat. How deep is it?
Posted by: euro.guy | October 3, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
Glad the children were able to locate the sub their father commanded.
Posted by: php mysql consultant | October 3, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Wow, how awesome is this?!? Thank you Abele men for your loving dedication to your father. I hope all the families of the other veterans lost at sea will be grateful too.
Posted by: Paula | October 3, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Note from Ned Potter–
Hello, Euro.guy. The wreck was in about 5,000 feet of water. The Abeles say they figured out the location with the help of a private Japanese historian who had done research on the ship with which the Grunion was believed to have done battle.
Posted by: Ned Potter | October 3, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
How many lives I wonder have our great oceans taken into their arms. Peace.
Posted by: ProudAmerican | October 3, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
God rest their brave souls
Posted by: aa | October 3, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Thank you Mr. Potter. The Grunion is a shrine to brave sailors.
Posted by: euro.guy | October 3, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
It is amazing that during the fury of battle, commanders keep accurate log of evens. Amazing.
Posted by: euro.guy | October 3, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Amen. May they all rest in peace for their bravery.
Posted by: Mona | October 3, 2008, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
I would rather hear about these types of stories than anything going on with our political system. Good Work!
Posted by: mario | October 3, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
I agree with all that has been said, but is it wrong to want to know more and try to discover exactly what happened?
Posted by: Herb | October 3, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
God Rest to the brave crew of the USS Grunion.
Posted by: Mike | October 3, 2008, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
Such a nobel sacriface. I’m glad they can be honored and thier memory presevered by this amazing find.
Posted by: freedomfighter1975 | October 3, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
Whether by enemy fire or not, they died trying to protect their country from an actual enemy in very grave times. We must be thankful for their bravery, their willingness to defend their country, and their personal sacrifice.
Posted by: Jordan | October 3, 2008, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
It is wonderful to honor these brave young sailors by identifying their ship.
Posted by: euro.guy | October 3, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
“Oh hear us, when we cry for thee….For those in peril on the sea……..”
thank you to the families and to the sailors, for their sacrifice & for their contributions during the war. May they rest in peace….
God Bless America & God Bless Her Troops!
Posted by: Born in America | October 3, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
“The wreck, like many others, will remain on the ocean floor.”
A monument to the men & women of our armed services.
Salute! May God rest their eternal souls.
Amen.
Posted by: eugene | October 3, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
God bless, and thank you.
Posted by: tony | October 3, 2008, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Anytime there’s war, Ken, all humanity pays for the mistake of the warmongers. No matter what side of the issue you’re on. There are NO good sides in war. They’re all inhumane. Like the song goes, “War! What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING!!” Even with all the advanced technology, War just proves how barbaric mankind remains and will mostly likely forever be.
Posted by: Why_WarQ | October 3, 2008, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
Crossing the Bar
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Posted by: Keightee | October 3, 2008, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm
Thanks ABC, I needed that. Kinda puts all this election stuff in perspective.
REST IN PEACE FELLAS !!!
Posted by: AutoCadSkills | October 3, 2008, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
Finall ysome peace for the brave souls who died for this country, and thank you!
Posted by: zgomer | October 3, 2008, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Goddess bless these brave servicemen.
Posted by: Melissa | October 3, 2008, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
May these brave sailors never be forgotten.
Posted by: NolaDude | October 3, 2008, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
Thank you sailors of the Grunion. Rest in peace. I salute you.
Posted by: Janey | October 3, 2008, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
You smug faced crowds with kindling eyes,
You shout and cheer as soldier boys walk by,
Go home and pray you never know,
The PLACE where youth and laughter go.
S. Sassoon WWI
L.Whitefield Viet Nam
Posted by: Richard | October 3, 2008, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
Tony, as a veteran of Iraq I, war is barbaric, but remember, those brave lads laid down their lives so that you could voice your opinion. We should all honor their memory with a simple “Thank you” please.
Posted by: JT | October 3, 2008, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
I echo all the comments expressed above.
Thank you all for your sacrifices for our country. We salute you.
Rest in peace.
Posted by: Larry | October 3, 2008, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
Submarine duty was once known as
‘Coffin Service’
God Bless the Officers and Sailors of
the USS Grunion.
Posted by: use2busmc | October 4, 2008, 12:39 am 12:39 am
One of my husband’s relatives was on the “Grunion.” Your kind and respectful remarks are much appreciated.
Posted by: skyskatr | October 4, 2008, 1:16 am 1:16 am
What a great sacrifice you made. I am so appreciative for your bravery and dedicated service. Freedom isn’t cheap. It comes with a price. May your reward in Heaven be great. Rest in peace and God Bless All Of You Brave Men.
With Many Many Thanks,
Barbara
Posted by: Barbara | October 4, 2008, 1:29 am 1:29 am
Among the last men to die fighting against a real enemy to our nation’s freedom. Rest in peace.
Posted by: Alex Earls | October 4, 2008, 3:04 am 3:04 am
Hey, Ned Potter…thanks for this very important history-story.
Is it possible for you,please, ask the Families of the 70 Sailors ou perhaps the NAVY Corps, to publish this article with a photograph of each of the 70 sailors who perished in this war-time battle?
Sometimes we just read or hear these stories, so I think it is very important to put a FACE to this kind of story, so young generations will pay far more attention to the virtues of Service to the country and far more attention to War & Peace.
Heaven is within not with-out!
Posted by: James Miller | October 4, 2008, 6:23 am 6:23 am
Why can’t they Navy confirm if it was hit under enemy fire? It has been over 60 + years ago. I think you can let that secret out of the bag.
Posted by: Gee West | October 4, 2008, 8:57 am 8:57 am
The commander of the sub had a destroyer named after him, USS Mannert L. Abele, DD733, sunk by a kamikaze.
Posted by: Brian | October 4, 2008, 9:07 am 9:07 am
May God bless all the men that lost their lives in the service of their country. May their familes know that they pasted with honor and that they are still remembered in 2008.
Posted by: Leanne | October 4, 2008, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Great thread…
Gratitude to all who serve.
Posted by: Bill | October 4, 2008, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Gee West said, “Why can’t they Navy confirm if it was hit under enemy fire? It has been over 60 + years ago. I think you can let that secret out of the bag.” Could you stop to think for one minute that the Navy doesn’t KNOW what sunk the ship and that everything isn’t a cover-up conspiracy. This is the first anybody’s seen of it since it was announced as overdue. I’ll tell you who sunk it. George Bush sunk it. And the gunman on the grassy knoll knows it.
Posted by: rwsmith29456 | October 5, 2008, 12:12 am 12:12 am
And by the way, AMEN to all the comments honoring those lost on the Grunion.
Posted by: rwsmith29456 | October 5, 2008, 12:13 am 12:13 am
Thank you for helping the families to know where their loved ones were and are.
Even in war, manufactured devices break down. Especially in war, when they’re being slammed out at such a breakneck pace. There needn’t be any cover up.
Posted by: William Adams | October 5, 2008, 7:15 am 7:15 am
Why_WarQ, the men and women who served their country during WWII fought an enemy that threatened the world. Thus threatened our very existence. Without them, you may not even exist. And because of them you are allowed to speak ill of them the way you are. War may be barbaric, but sometimes, it is necessary. JT put it right. We all owe them a big thank you. And they have all earned our respect.
These men died doing what many wouldn’t even volunteer to do. The fear that they felt while doing it is felt by very few, yet they did it. That, is true courage. I’m glad they’ll leave the sub alone. It’s their memorial, and tomb.
Posted by: Lawrence | October 6, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
They are on eternal patrol.
As a former boat sailor I am glad that they found the boat and crew. Every one of us the serve or served in the US Navy Submarine service feel for the families.
Posted by: DBF | October 6, 2008, 10:55 am 10:55 am