I watched this on Memorial Day in my search to remember Commander Howard W Gilmore of the Growler. God bless all these men that gave their lives. My hope is that this country is still worth their sacrifice.
God rest USS Harder, Sam Dealey, his Officers and men. Thanks for presenting this timeless episode. The courage of such men can be better appreciated by generations of Folk for years to come!
JW Thomason was my grandfather’s younger brother who served as the head chef on the USS Harder. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, he sold his restaurant in Ft. Worth, and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 37. So, he was around 40 years old when he made that swim. When he was in Washington, DC to receive his Navy Cross, the Harder was sunk with all hands. After the war, he went on to establish the Sizzler Restaurant chain with a secret papaya marinade recipe he learned about when serving in the South Pacific. As an elderly man, he told me that one of his proudest achievements was making sure each breakfast served on the Harder was uniquely cooked in that tiny galley to each sailor’s or officer’s preference.
I remember the Sizzler chain. Thank you for "The Rest of the Story." God bless your grandfather, God bless the men of the Harder and God Bless America.
Thankful that you're great uncle survived the war. By saving the pilots life he saved his own. The Thomasons have a long tradition of military service. Col. John W. Thomason USMC served in WWI and SSgt Clyde Thomason was a Marine Raider (Carlson's 2nd Marine Raiders) kia on Makin Island in 1942. He was the first enlisted man to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
I served aboard the USS Harder II (SS 568). All the Harder books were in the boat 's library. When non-quals would come to me for an engine room sign off, I used to slip in a question or two from the books so non-quals would get an appreciation of our name sake's history. They all complained that it nothing to do with the engine room.
As much as I admire the intrepid men portrayed here, it greatly pains me to contemplate the terrible loss of life and limb. I had several friends who were casualties of war, and it is very to me painful to hear of any military who fight to the death.
A navy pilot captured by the Japanese had a small chance of being sent to a prisoner of war camp. In some cases after being executed they would eat the liver. Strange but true.
I only have one question. If they had no paddles for their life raft from the start, why didn't they take the paddles from the other life raft that was dropped by the aircraft assisting? Those paddles would have prevented their problem getting back to the sub.
I read an article some time ago that suggested Sam Dealey was really tired and should have been relieved after the fifth patrol. The story was that Sam asked for just one more patrol, then relief.
There is a sense of courage to do things when too tired, but alas, we will never know the real story. what struck me was that the sinking destroyer would have the depth charges go off when they got deep. not something you would want to be around.
If the raft was like I remember, the paddles were fixed to the raft. And that raft was a one man raft. In the urgency of the operation they wouldn't have taken the time to break the paddles loose. That plus they already had a plan and the enlisted men would likely stick to that plan.
They also had the chance to take the paddles from the life raft was dropped for the pilot by the assisting aircraft; as seen in the video they were right there for the taking but were left there.
great shows, but this one rings up stupid. they left the paddles.... the float plane was close, cut the rope, but then what ? why didn't the plane pick up the zoomy ?
Perhaps before the next interview a cup of coffee .There is a moment they picked up the oars as there the cream of the fleet, a great program an people nit pick .Most critics can,t swim.
I watched this on Memorial Day in my search to remember Commander Howard W Gilmore of the Growler. God bless all these men that gave their lives. My hope is that this country is still worth their sacrifice.
God rest USS Harder, Sam Dealey, his Officers and men. Thanks for presenting this timeless episode. The courage of such men can be better appreciated by generations of Folk for years to come!
JW Thomason was my grandfather’s younger brother who served as the head chef on the USS Harder. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, he sold his restaurant in Ft. Worth, and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 37. So, he was around 40 years old when he made that swim. When he was in Washington, DC to receive his Navy Cross, the Harder was sunk with all hands. After the war, he went on to establish the Sizzler Restaurant chain with a secret papaya marinade recipe he learned about when serving in the South Pacific. As an elderly man, he told me that one of his proudest achievements was making sure each breakfast served on the Harder was uniquely cooked in that tiny galley to each sailor’s or officer’s preference.
I remember the Sizzler chain. Thank you for "The Rest of the Story." God bless your grandfather, God bless the men of the Harder and God Bless America.
That is amazing, I have dined at Sizzler many times when I was young, what an amazing credit to our nation.
Thankful that you're great uncle survived the war. By saving the pilots life he saved his own. The Thomasons have a long tradition of military service. Col. John W. Thomason USMC served in WWI and SSgt Clyde Thomason was a Marine Raider (Carlson's 2nd Marine Raiders) kia on Makin Island in 1942. He was the first enlisted man to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
We finally found her! Thank you for everything, gentlemen. Sorry it took so long. ♥️
So sweet to save a pilot then have him not only become an ace but put serious hurt on the enemy
I served aboard the USS Harder II (SS 568). All the Harder books were in the boat 's library. When non-quals would come to me for an engine room sign off, I used to slip in a question or two from the books so non-quals would get an appreciation of our name sake's history. They all complained that it nothing to do with the engine room.
Thank you for your service, you did the right thing, what an amazing heritage.
Thomas Daggett Ogilvie - my Uncle - lies with the USS HARDER & Crew.
When I was a 19yo teenager in 1967, I served on the CARP SS338. Rest Easy fellow sailors.
They just confirmed this week HARDER has indeed been located off the Phillipines...(5/24/24)
The wreck of the Harder was just recently found. Big hole where conning tower meets the hull.
As much as I admire the intrepid men portrayed here, it greatly pains me to contemplate the terrible loss of life and limb. I had several friends who were casualties of war, and it is very to me painful to hear of any military who fight to the death.
that's what war IS. When we sign up, we know what risk we are taking.
I was smiling right up to the end. Death on a sub sounds pretty awful. God Bless America.
This mission is also featured in an episode of Hell Below on the Smithsonian channel in 2016.
A navy pilot captured by the Japanese had a small chance of being sent to a prisoner of war camp. In some cases after being executed they would eat the liver. Strange but true.
Chi Chi Jima...
She was located 3 days ago, relatively intact in 3000 ft water.
Killing destroyers with bow shots was the premise for the movie "Run Silent, Run Deep".
I wonder why they didn't grab the paddles from that small rubber boat?
Merle Morrison Heck, why didn't they just switch rubber boats?
Yeah, I wondered about that too.
They didn't take the oars because it wasn't in the script! 😉
@@kengrantham4176 exactly. It's a movie.
Did you ever try to use those paddles that came with the survival rafts. Small, made so the downed crewman couldn't lose it.
Fate:
Sunk by enemy vessels off Dasol Bay, Luzon, 24 August 1944
I was four days old. I love learning everything I can about WW II.
Also why not use rifle butt stocks for paddles? I'm sure they had a few rifles on board.
Going as lifeguards but they fail to bring oars or a small motor for the rescue raft...great rescue team!
Seems to me, that they should have grabbed the oars from the one-man life raft!!!
I only have one question. If they had no paddles for their life raft from the start, why didn't they take the paddles from the other life raft that was dropped by the aircraft assisting? Those paddles would have prevented their problem getting back to the sub.
They left the paddles from the pilots boat in them??
Do they have a show on the USS torks docked in Baltimore Maryland??
The book hitem harder is great reading....
Mitchell Cooper reading this book right now. My grandfather served five tours,,, didn’t go on that sixth tour.
Thanks
War is Hell...F'ing PBY!
Some folks get careless. They were so focused on destroying submarines.
I heard that in our current Navy some submarine crews have a "problem" with smoking reefer. I think you need to get high to go so low LOL
I have to wonder if the sub was lost while trying to attack another destroyer.
Yes it was. Wikipedia has an article on most US warships.
I read an article some time ago that suggested Sam Dealey was really tired and should have been relieved after the fifth patrol. The story was that Sam asked for just one more patrol, then relief.
There is a sense of courage to do things when too tired, but alas, we will never know the real story.
what struck me was that the sinking destroyer would have the depth charges go off when they got deep. not something you would want to be around.
Many losses were taken while operating near coast hugging cargo ship lanes with not enough depth under the keel for evasion.
Ironically it was sunk by a captured US destroyer I believe, so the first and last attacks on it were by made in the USA equipment.
Life jackets for the swimmers???
IS that Fess Parker?
You do know they show credits at the end, right? Do you see the name "Fess Parker" there?
❤
Why would the pby bomb a us sub.
Why would they not take the paddles from the other dingy???
If the raft was like I remember, the paddles were fixed to the raft. And that raft was a one man raft. In the urgency of the operation they wouldn't have taken the time to break the paddles loose. That plus they already had a plan and the enlisted men would likely stick to that plan.
Why didn't they use a shot line?
It's strange the no paddles,,,,but they were heros,,don't make them like that anymore,,,,
Harpoon on the bow. Launch a line
I do not believe that some kind of paddle could not have been rigged
They also had the chance to take the paddles from the life raft was dropped for the pilot by the assisting aircraft; as seen in the video they were right there for the taking but were left there.
WAIT...DON'T LEAVE...I WILL SWIM OUT...WORLD'S WORST SEA RESCUE IN NAVAL HISTORY.
great shows, but this one rings up stupid. they left the paddles.... the float plane was close, cut the rope, but then what ? why didn't the plane pick up the zoomy ?
Plain announced "DIVE!"
Sub leaps out at 45° angle... hmm...
Heh it seams RUclips committed suicide and blocked users that use adblock. Farewell and thanks to the competition.
That exactly what a platoon leader says of a sniper. 'We can beat em if the conditions are right.'😐
.....
Broom handle and
The interview at the end was monotonous and boring. Almost fell asleep!!
Good one!!!
Perhaps before the next interview a cup of coffee .There is a moment they picked up the oars as there the cream of the fleet, a great program an people nit pick .Most critics can,t swim.