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Christina Capiccioni-Family
to remember
Oeldemann, Henry Carl, F1c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Milwaukee, WI
Last Address USS Grayling in the Pacific.
F1c Oeldemann's remains are actually Lost at Sea with the Grayling in the Pacific off Manila in the Philippines.
Casualty Date Sep 09, 1943
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Wood National Cemetery (VA) - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wall/Plot Coordinates CENOTAPH
Military Service Number 6 103 317
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Fireman 1c Henry Carl Oeldemann
On Eternal Patrol
F1c Henry C. Oeldemann, 6103317, SS-209, the Tambor-class submarine "USS Grayling." Killed in Action on or about 9 September 1943 when his submarine disappeared and was presumed lost in the waters near the Tablas Strait, Philippines. Born 29 June 1919, he entered the service from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was 24 years old.
The USS Grayling was conducting her eighth war patrol when she was lost with all hands. The Graylings last victory was recorded on 27 August 1943 against the passenger-cargo Meizan Maru in the Tablas Strait.
On 9 September, a Japanese ship reported sighting an American submarine on the surface and a second ship later reported an American submarine in shallow water off the coast of Manila. The ship, passenger-cargo vessel Hokuan Maru reported making a run over the submarine and "noted an impact with a submerged object." No word from the Grayling was ever received past 9 September. All 76 hands were lost.
He is listed on the Tablet of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. Some records show Henry as born in Chicago, IL. He was raised in Milwaukee and a grave marker is located at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Plot MF 0 93.
Comments/Citation:
USS Grayling SS-209 was on her 8th War Patrol when she went missing. Grayling was credited with five major kills, totaling 20,575 tons. All but the first of Grayling's eight war patrols were declared "successful". She received six battle stars for World War II service.
