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Casualty Info
Home Town Houtzdale, PA
Last Address Houtzdale, PA
Casualty Date Feb 26, 1944
Cause KIA-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 3 (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
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. Fire Controlman Second Class Gavlak was listed as Missing in Action and later declared dead 12 January 1946.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 2506016
Submarine war patrols: USS Grayback (SS-208) - 9th and 10th
Navy Unit Commendation
For ourstanding heroism in action during the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth War Patrols in restricted waters of the Pacific. Tracking her targets relentlessly in wide coverage of her assigned sectors, the USS Grayback bodly penetrated formidable enemy screens to strike at every quarter. Repeatedly forced to deep submergence by unusually heavy deapth charging, she continued to launch her torpedoes against strongly escorted convoys with deadly purposes and, under 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 the blocking of his life line of supply. Ceaseless in her vigilance and daring in her sustained offensive, she fought gallantly throughout numerous gruelling patrols, rendering distinctive service in thwarting the war efforts of a fanatical enemy until she failed to return after the overwhelming counter-attacks suffered during the Tenth War Patrol. The USS Grayback leaves behind her an imspiring 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.
