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.
Casualty Info
Home Town Chicago, IL
Last Address 1323 Winnemac Ave Chicago, IL
Casualty Date Aug 24, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
The USS Harder (SS-257) began her 6th War Patrol on August 5th, 1944 and formed a "wolfpack" with four other submarines. She sank two merchant ships before her final attack on August 24th. While the Hake escaped sinking, a depth charge attack sunk the Harder with all hands. Radio Technician Second Class Levin was listed as Missing in Action and later declared dead 2 October 1945.
RT2c. George B. Levin, 07260834, USS Harder (SS-257). Killed in Action on 24 August 1944 with all hands, when the USS Harder was sunk by a Japanese Mine Sweeper that had been converted to an anti-submarine ship near Caiman Point, and four miles off Hermana Major Island, Luzon, Philippines. Born on 1 October 1922, he entered the service on 23 November 1942 from Chicago, Illinois.
The USS Harder, under the command of Commander S. D. Dealey, began its sixth war patrol on 5 August 1944 from Fremantle, Australia. The Harder was patrolling with several other US submarines. On 20 August 1944, a group of US submarines attacked a Japanese convoy of 16 ships, of which 4 were sunk totaling 22,000 tons. It is believed that the Harder sank one ship. On 21 August, the Harder and the USS Haddo sank the Hiburi, Sado and Matsuwa, Japanese coast defense vessels. Each submarine received credit for 1 1/2 ships.
On 24 August, the USS Hake was patrolling with the Harder when they sighted a three-stack Thai destroyer (the PHRA Ruang), and a converted minesweeper. The Harder's periscope was last seen by the Hale at 0647. The Japanese minesweeper pinged the Harder and dropped 15 depth charges. The USS Harder was never heard from again. This was RT2c Levin's first war patrol.
He is listed on the tablet of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. He was 21 years old and survived by his mother and father.