July 2024 | Tennessee Submarine Memorial Assoc. News
July 2024
Greetings from the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association.
Thank you for being part of our efforts to build a memorial to United States Submarine Force sailors who gave their lives in defense of the nation.
This month we are pleased and thankful that Charles and Frank Hood, authors of a terrific series of books on the U.S. Submarine Force, are donating their proceeds for the month of July to the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association. The Hood’s books describe what it’s like to serve in submarines including first hand stories from scores of submariners. You can check out and buy their books at SubTales.com.
Act now to get your books that will support building a Submarine Memorial in Tennessee. And thanks to Frank and Charles Hood for their generosity.
This newsletter serves to update you on our progress and to remind you of the need for your financial support. However, the most important aspect of these monthly newsletters is to highlight the Tennesseans who were lost and the submarines in which they served.
As we compile the lists of boats and men each month it’s easy to get lost digging into their backgrounds and hometowns. It’s easy to spend time imagining what it was like to grow up in Golddust or Speedwell, Lawrenceburg or Harriman or Kennebec, Tennessee, in the years leading up to their service, mostly in WWII. And what was it like to be in the families of these men, when in the dark days of the war, they were visited by a U.S. Navy “casualty office” who delivered news of their loss, and to know that their loved ones would never come home. These are unimaginable losses for those who cared for them, and who lamented the lives never to be lived.
It is these memories we seek to commemorate. Our brothers who never came home.
Let me update you on our progress to build a Submarine Memorial. We continue to work with officials of the City of Smyrna, Tennessee on site selection at Lee Park and final approval for the memorial to be located there. Next steps include selecting an architect to begin work on site design and production of renderings. The art work will be necessary for final site approval and to share with you and other donors as we ask for your donations to make the project happen. We invite you to make your gift now to help with costs of our architect.
The TSMA Board is also focused on the August convention of the U.S. Submarine Veterans in Cleveland, Ohio. As you know the TSMA was founded by the Volunteer Base of USSVI. We’re preparing materials that will help attract support from our fellow submariners who will be coming from every state for a week of fellowship. We’ll report back on the annual meeting of the “Brothers of Phin.”
Please share this newsletter with family, friends and everyone in your network and encourage them to become monthly donors to build a memorial. Your and their gifts will make a Submarine Memorial possible.
Thank you.
Patrick Ryan
President, TN Submarine Memorial Assoc.
Thank you.
TOLLING THE BOATS
Join us in remembering the boats and crews that were lost in the anniversary month of July.
Lost on July 4,1944 with the loss of 49 crew members. She was conducting training exercises off Hawaii with the US Coast Guard Cutter Reliance. After S-28 dove for a practice torpedo approach, Reliance lost contact. No distress signal or explosion was heard. Two days later, an oil slick was found near where S-28. The exact cause of her loss remains a mystery.
Fireman Edward Franklin Anderson was born in Kennebec, TN
Seaman Second John Franklin Brown was born in Goldust, TN
Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class John Rufus Haney was born in Lexington, Tennessee
USS Perch (SS-176)
1 Lost Tennessean
Chief Electricians Mate Houston Ernest Edwards was captured by the Japanese when the USS Perch (SS-176) was sunk 3 March 1942. Chief Edwards died a Prisoner of War 10 July 1944.
Chief Electricians Mate Houston Ernest Edwards was born in Speedwell TN
USS Robalo (SS-273)
2 Lost Tennesseans
Lost on July 26,1944 with the loss of 81 crew members while on her 3rd war patrol. She struck a mine about 2 miles off the coast of Palawan. Four men survived and swam ashore, then were imprisoned by the Japanese. Unfortunately, they were put on a Japanese destroyer and lost when that destroyer was sunk.
Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Jack Akers Hurst was born in Lawrenceburg, TN
Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Charles Alfred Root was born in Harriman TN
USS Grunion (SS-216)
1 Lost Tennessean
Lost on July 30,1942 with the loss of 70 crew members while on her first war patrol near Kiska Harbor. She radioed that she sank two sub-chasers and damaged a third, but was never heard from again. Grunion’s mangled remains were found in the Bering Sea in 2006 off the Aleutian Island of Kiska.
Gunner’s Mate First Class Samuel Artist Templeton was from Goodlettsville, TN
SUBMARINE MEMORIAL COINS
The TSMA is producing “challenge coins” for the Tennessee Submarine Memorial that will serve as “thank yous” when you make your gift. We’ll send a coin to everyone who donates $100 or more or joins the monthly gift list with a donation of $10 or more per month to run for at least one year. Thank you in advance for your support.
SUBMARINE MEMORIAL SITE
TSMA has begun conversations with the City Manager and Director of Parks from the City of Smyrna to build the Tennessee Submarine Memorial at the Lee Victory Park. The site hosts a world-class memorial to Blue Angel pilot, Captain Jeff Kuss, who was lost in a tragic training accident as the Blue Angels prepared for an air show in Smyrna in 2016. We’ll have more details about the TSMA project developments at the site, but for today let us share with you these photos and LINK to the Captain Kuss memorial in Smyrna, Tennessee.
MEET THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE TSMA [LINK]
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SUBMARINE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION?
Please contact Patrick.Ryan@TennSub.org
DO YOU KROGER?
The TSMA is registered with Kroger Rewards and earns revenue based on your shopping totals — with no charge to you. Your Cheerios and ice cream will help us build a Submarine Memorial in Tennessee. Check out the Kroger Community Rewards program HERE.
Help Build A Memorial to Tennesseans Lost in Submarine Duty in Defense of the Nation
To make a gift by check: make it to Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association and mail to: 309 Church Street, #107, Nashville, TN 37201.
Thank you.
The Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association is a tax exempt charitable organization and donations are subject to treatment in accordance with IRS 501c3 considerations.
The Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association is approved by the Tennessee Secretary of State to solicit charitable contributions for the purposes of our mission.
Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association
309 Church Street, #107
Nashville, TN 37201
Chairman: Mike Anderson
President: Patrick Ryan
Treasurer: Larry Smith
Secretary: Mike Gorham
Board Member: Vinny McCrum
Board Member: Mike Patzius
Board Member: Bob Woolf
Advisory Board:
Jon Jacques
Email: Info@TENNSUB.org