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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Chief Petty Officer
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Last Primary NEC
MO-0000-Motor Machinist/Oiler
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Last Rating/NEC Group
Motor Machinistmate/Oiler
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Primary Unit
1941-1944, MO-0000, USS Grayback (SS-208)
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Service Years
1934 - 1944
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Personal Details
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Home State
North Carolina | |
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Year of Birth
1917 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sheila Rae Myers, HM3
to remember
Nicholson, William Gerard, CMoMM.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Richlands, NC |
Last Address
108 Westminster Dr
Jacksonville, NC
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Casualty Date
Feb 26, 1944 |
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Cause
Hostile-Body Not Recovered |
Reason
Other Explosive Device |
Location
Pacific Ocean |
Conflict
World War II |
Location of Interment
Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Court 1 (cenotaph) |
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Last Known Activity
USS Grayback's (SS_208) 10th war patrol, her most successful, was also her last. She left Pearl Harbor, 28 January, 1944, and by 25 February had sunk three ships and damaged three others. On 27 February she sank another ship but was apparently attacked by carrier based aircraft (according to Japanese reports) and sunk. Chief Motor Machinist's Mate Nicholson was listed as Missing in Action and later declared dead 12 January 1946.
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Comments/Citation
Service number: 2619529
Submarine war patrols: USS Grayback (SS-208) - 3rd through 10th
Navy Unit Commendation
For outstanding heroism in action during the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth War Patrols in the restricted waters of the Pacific. Tracking her targets relentlessly in wide coverage of her assigned sectors, the USS Grayback boldly penetrated formidable enemy screens to strike at every quarter. Repeatedly forced to deep submergence by unusually heavy depth charging, she continued to launch her torpedoes against strongly escorted convoys with deadly purpose and, under the superb handling of her skilled officers and men, achieved a notable combat record in vital ships sunk or damaged and contributed essentially to the steady weakening of the enemy's shipping strength and to blocking of his life line of supply. Ceaseless in her vigilance and daring in her sustained offensive, she fought gallantly throughout numerous grueling patrols, rendering distinctive service in thwarting the war efforts of a fanatical enemy until she failed to return after the overwhelming counter-attack suffered during her Tenth War Patrol. The USS Grayback leaves behind her an inspiring tradition of intrepidity and aggressiveness, reflecting the valor, the daring seamanship and fortitude of her ship's company.
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
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