Marta and I will make a trek tomorrow to say thank you to one sailior from WWII On Eternal Patrol

[Omaha Steve]

I have to work Monday. A submariner killed in WWII by friendly fire is on our list. It is about a 1/2 hour drive one way. It will probably be overgrown with weeds. But we will go just the same, as we have for years. I hope to go see dad too. It has been 19 years since we lost a decorated soldier (PFC) in the Pacific theater from WWII. Mom joined him last August.

http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/submarine/submarinel_history.html

Rev. Allis and his wife, Emeline Palmer Allis, are buried here in Wall Cemetery. He was active as a missionary with the Pawnee Indians here in 1834-1846, and was a missionary in the Nebraska area for over 40 years. This would make him one of the earliest of the travelers to come to Nebraska right after Lewis and Clark went through, and a definite pioneer who had a direct impact on our history. He died on December 12, 1883 in Fremont, Nebraska, but is supposedly buried here. The cemetery got its name from Civil War Union Army colonel and physician Dr. W. R. Wall, who moved to Iowa after the war and married one of Rev. Allis' daughters.

One of their direct descendants was Vernon Palmer Wall, who enlisted in the Navy within days of Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the submarine Seawolf, which was lost at sea with all hands presumed dead on October 7, 1944. The Seawolf had been on a secret mission to the Japanese-held Phillipine Islands, delivering interpreters, radar equipment and supplies. After delivering their cargo, they were assumed to have been hit by the Japanese and left crippled. There is reason to believe now that they were hit by "friendly fire" as they lay crippled, a US destroyer unaware they were firing on a US sub. In any case, the Seawolf never returned from her mission. His grieving family put up a cenotaph marker which is dedicated to him.

Click here to see a photo of Vernon Palmer Wall, and read a bit about his service record, at the On Eternal Patrol website for lost submariners. My thanks to Charles Hinman for this link.



Much more info here: http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/submarine/submarinel_main.html

OS

[longship]

1. Lost in Seawolf.

Which had an incredible WWII record given her age (launched before the war, after which many improvements were made).

Her first skipper was the fearless Freddie Warder who took Seawolf to fame in seven war patrols.

She was lost in Sept, 1944 under LCDR Albert Bontier due to unknown causes while on patrol out of Brisbane, Australia. Some say Japanese destroyer; some say friendly fire. I don't know if it's been determined which.

The Silent Service's story in WWII is pretty incredible. My cousin Carl died in the Kete off of the shore of Japan, which spurned my interest in WWII submarine history.

[billh58]

7. My uncle

Jacob Starr was also aboard the Kete when it was lost.

[burrowowl]

2. Thank you for your info!

[GeoWilliam750]

3. Thank you for remembering

As well as your also help in looking after this near forgotten cemetery.

[Omaha Steve]

4. We're back

The cemetery has been mowed recently. I'll have a photo up later.

[pkdu]

5. His sister passed away in 2005....may have another still living..

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1358659/Obituary-Allis-Virginia-Wall.html?pg=all

[Omaha Steve]

6. Thank you, she was a Vet too!

Snip: She served in the Women Marines for three and one-half years as a teacher and a recruiter.

Snip: Internment was October 15, 2005 at Kaysville City Cemetery, with the Marines officiating at graveside services.

[pkdu]

9. So was their sister Lorraine?

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/print-record-detail.jsp?dt=893&rid=95082

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Thanks for this post, Steve...

We need to remember.

[Omaha Steve]

10. Photo of Vernon's cenotaph taken today with the grass recently mowed