From the September 25, 2012, Virginia Pilot.
The national convention of this organization in Norfolk, Virginia, was attended by just 62 men. At one time thousands attended. It was decided at the convention to disband the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. Its local chapters get to decide if they want to continue under another name or dissolve.
Of the 1,100 submarine veterans of the organization remaining, the youngest is 86 and oldest 102. The national organization was established in 1955.
Submarines made up just 2% of the U.S. fleet during the war, but sank more than 30% of the Japanese Navy as well as nearly 5 million tons of enemy shipping.
Some 16,000 men served on the submarines and 52 were lost with the deaths of 3,500 Americans.
Hopefully they will be keeping the records of the organization somewhere.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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