Servicemen and women are recognized annually during Veterans’ Day, but another day of commemoration is coming up: the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Midway. Fought from June 4 to 7, 1942, the epic engagement halted Japanese expansion and was the Pacific turning point of World War II. My new book, The Search for the Japanese Fleet, remembers the heroes of Midway, particularly the ninety-three men of USS Nautilus, who fought bravely, played a key role in the U.S. victory, and risked all to stand for freedom. The book features interviews with some of the men who were there. Though most have passed on to “Eternal Patrol,” a few remain with us. I have recently become acquainted with Henry “Hank” Kudzik, who served on Nautilus from 1942-44, and Jerry Gross, who was a young Machinist Mate on board during the battle, and sailed with the submarine through 1943. Kudzik will be attending this year’s annual Midway commemoration hosted by the Naval Submarine League (http://www.midwaycommemoration.org), and will be presented an autographed copy of my book in recognition of his service. In the words of Harold “Buzz” Lee, radioman on board Nautilus during the battle, “… that terrible day of June 4th, 1942 should never be forgotten by any American, ever.”
Books by David W. Jourdan
SS-168—USS Nautilus—was the pre-war flagship of Submarine Division 12 and operated out of Pearl Harbor throughout World War II. She was commissioned July 1, 1930, before international naval treaties limited future submarine size, and thus was among the largest submarines in the U.S. fleet. Over a football field in length and displacing 4,000 tons submerged, the boat was able to carry a large crew, ample cargo, two dozen torpedoes, cruiser-sized six-inch caliber guns, and cruise as far as 25,000 miles. She could dive to three hundred feet—though her crew was known to take her deeper. Throughout 1942-45 Nautilus engaged the enemy in fourteen war patrols, from the Battle of Midway to the liberation of the Philippines, earning fourteen battle stars and the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation. Her skipper, William H. Brockman, Jr., received not one but three Navy Crosses for heroism, the first for fighting through 42 depth charges at Midway. Nautilus did everything a submarine can do and was involved in most of the major actions of the Pacific theater. In Last Man Down, historical events documented in deck logs and patrol reports are told through the voices of the men who lived them. Read More >
The Never Forgotten series chronicles Nauticos ocean explorations and discoveries, remembering and honoring lost heroes and explorers.
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