Lost Boat Memorial Service at Mare Island

Mare Island to honor subs lost in WWII
By Sarah Rohrs of Vallejo Times-Herald

An annual service to honor the crewmen of Mare Island submarines lost at sea in World War II takes place Sunday afternoon.

The event, "Lost Boats of Mare Island Memorial," is the third annual tribute to the seven Mare Island-built submarines that never made it home, their crew members on "eternal patrol."

The event is to help keep alive the memory of Mare Island Naval Shipyard's history and prominence, Lost Boats Memorial co-founder and organizer Myrna Hayes said.

"Mare Island is the oldest Navy installation on the Pacific. We need to keep that memory alive. What better group to honor than those men who left on those seven boats and never returned?" she said.

Seven of the 23 Mare Island submarines that fought in World War II were among the 42 submarines lost at sea, Hayes said.

They are the USS Pompano (SS-181), USS Swordfish (SS-193), USS Gudgeon (SS-211), USS Trigger (SS-237), USS Tullibee (SS-284), USS Tang (SS-306), and the USS Wahoo (SS-238).

Events start 1 p.m. with a flag raising at Morton Field at G Street and Walnut Avenue. A memorial service from 2 to 3:30 p.m. will follow at St. Peter's Chapel, 10th Street and Walnut Avenue.

A former Mare Island submarine combat systems engineer, Larry Maggini, will give a slide show and present research from his book "On Eternal Patrol," which will be available for sale in print and DVD versions.

At the service, participants can share memories and recollections and recognize all members of the military's submarine force.

At 5:30 p.m. a wreath will be laid at Berth 6 -- at A Street and Nimitz Avenue.

Vallejo California Chapter of U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II members will call out the names of all submarines lost at sea as they ring a bell for each boat.

The memorial program coincides with the anniversary of the loss of the USS Wahoo, built on Mare Island.

Launched Feb. 14, 1942, the USS Wahoo was lost at sea on Oct. 11, 1943, with a crew of 80 men, Hayes said. In 2006 remains found in the Soya Strait were confirmed as those of crewmen from the Wahoo.

For more details on Sunday's events go to www.MareIslandLostBoats.org.