This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Schmidt, Carl Edward, CPO.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Washington, D. C.
Last Address Kingston, New York
Casualty Date Sep 09, 1943
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Lost At Sea-Unrecovered
Location Philippines
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/New Guinea Campaign (1943-44)/Sinking of the USS Grayling (SS-209)
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1943
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Last Updated: Dec 24, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories On 27 August 1943, Japanese ships witnessed a torpedo attack, and the next day a surfaced submarine was seen, both in the Tablas Strait area, and then on 9 September a surfaced American submarine was seen inside Lingayen Gulf. All of these sightings correspond with Grayling's orders to patrol the approaches to Manila. On 9 September 1943, Japanese passenger-cargo vessel Hokuan Maru reported a submarine in shallow water west of Luzon. The ship made a run over the area and noted an impact with a submerged object. No additional data are available.
No recorded Japanese attacks could have sunk Grayling. Her loss may have been operational or by an unrecorded attack. The only certainty, therefore, is that Grayling was lost between 9 and 12 September 1943 either in Lingayen Gulf or along the approaches to Manila. ComTaskFor 71 requested a transmission from Grayling on 12 September, but did not receive one.
Grayling was officially reported "lost with all hands" on 30 September 1943.
