World War II Honoree

Merrill Ray Gillman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Relationship

Shipmates

CHIEF MOTOR MACHINIST'S MATE. KILLED IN ACTION ONBOARD USS SHARK SS-174 ON FEBRUARY 11, 1942. THE SHARK REPORTED TO HER BASE AT SOERABAJA THAT SHE HAD BEEN DEPTH-CHARGED TEN MILES OFF TIFORE ISLAND AND HAD FAILED TO SINK A JAPANESE SHIP DURING A TORPEDO ATTACK. FIVE DAYS LATER, SHE REPORTED CHASING AN EMPTY CARGO SHIP HEADED NORTHWEST. NO FURTHER MESSAGES WERE RECEIVED. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1942, SHE WAS TOLD TO PROCEED TO MAKASSAR STRAIT AND LATER WAS TOLD TO REPORT INFORMATION. NOTHING WAS HEARD, AND ON MARCH 7, 1942 THE SHARK WAS REPORTED AS PRESUMED LOST, THE VICTIM OF UNKNOWN CAUSES.