After 8 decades the USS Harder has been found off the coast of Luzon 3000 feet below the surface

 

The U.S. Navy’s Submarine Fleet was called the “Silent Service”
Captains and crews of Japanese Marus operating in sub infested waters had reason to be nervous
Traveling often alone and without enough escorts they were easy prey
To a spread of torpedoes launched and coming quickly their way
Japanese warships escorting Marus and warships or trying to land troops were from sub attack not immune
Some 200 warships and 1300 Marus from torpedoes met their doom
Some 52 U.S. subs were sunk with over 3500 men lost
Destroying Japan’s ability to supply its conquests and Japan came with a high cost
As we near Memorial Day with veterans of the Greatest Generation almost all dead
It is perhaps fitting that one of the most successful subs the USS Harder has been found off Luzon on the seabed
Resting on its keel with only depth charge damage to its stern
Looking like it was waiting to rise to the surface to for sinking one more ship a medal to earn
3000 feet below the surface sent to the bottom by not evading a depth charge attack
No signs of implosion and one hopes it was quickly flooded instead causing death after oxygen it would soon lack
What brave men to go down to the sea in subs knowing if depth charges exploded nearby?
There was no chance to surface only face death very quickly or with oxygen gone slowly die
There bodies never to be buried with full military honors so family and friends could  grieve
Seeing evidence in the form of tombstones of the heroic deeds they achieved
God help us if there is again an existential war we have to face
And we cannot find the brave men and women in uniform to the Greatest Generation replace

© May 24, 2024 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet

A 4D photogrammetry model of the USS Harder at its current resting place, more than 3,000 feet below the surface of the South China Sea. (Tim Taylor and the Lost 52 Project)