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Casualty Info
Home Town Brockton, MA
Last Address 84 Maple St Suffern, NY
Casualty Date Oct 03, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
The USS Seawolf (SS-197) began her last war patrol on 21 September 1944. On 29 September, she reached Manus Island in northern Papua New Guinea and sailed the same day carrying stores and Army personnel to the east coast of Samar. The last contact from her was on 3 October 1944. On 28 December 1944, the Seawolf was announced overdue from patrol and presumed lost. Lieutenant Doane was listed as missing in action and later declared dead on 7 October 1945.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 165842
Navy Unit Commendation
For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese shipping during her Seventh War Patrol in the Davac Gulf, Palau and Yap areas, from October 7 to December, 1942; her Tenth War Patrol in the East China Sea from August 14 to September 15, 1943 and her Twelfth War Patrol in the East China Sea December 22, 1943 to January 27, 1944. Persistent and daring, the USS Seawolf penetrated the mouths of enemy-held harbors in bold pursuit of hostile shipping. Striking fiercely in the face of severe depth charges, aerial bombs and gun fire, she launched a series of brilliant attacks which destroyed eleven cargo ships and extensively damaged two freighters. After exhausting all torpedoes, the Seawolf tenaciously pursued and demolished by gun fire one enemy ship and turned another back into the attack range of a friendly submarine. Her outstanding performance in combat attests the skill and superb teamwork of her courageous officers and men and reflect the highest credit upon herself and the United States Naval Service.
Her keel was laid down on 27 September 1938 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 15 August 1939 sponsored by Mrs. Edward C. Kalbfus and commissioned on 1 December 1939, Lieutenant Frederick B. Warder (Class of 1925) in command.
The USS Seawolf (SS-197) was a Seadragon-class World War II era submarine. Only four boats of this class were built: USS Seadragon (SS-194), USS Sealion (SS-195), USS Searaven (SS-196), and USS Seawolf (SS-197). In their outward appearance they were almost identical to the Sargo-class boats, however they had a different engine arrangement and all-electric drive. 1
The namesake of the USS Seawolf is the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), also known as the seawolf, Atlantic catfish, ocean catfish, wolf eel (the common name for its Pacific relative), or sea cat. It is a marine fish, the largest of the wolffish family (Anarhichadidae). They are commonly sighted throughout Asia.
The radio call sign of the USS Seawolf was NAN-EASY-LOVE-WILLIAM.
She was struck from the Navy list on January 20, 1945.
The Seawolf received thirteen battle stars for World War II service. Her JANAC score is eighteen vessels sunk for 71,609 tons. Her Alden-McDonald score is twenty-seven vessels sunk for 97,035 tons and six vessels damaged for 32,950 tons. Her SORG score is twenty vessels sunk for 109,600 tons and fourteen vessels damaged for 74,100 tons.