World War II Honoree

Robert Norman Ball

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Relationship

Shipmates

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS. KILLED ONBOARD USS ARGONAUT SS-166 ON JANUARY 10, 1943. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. ON JANUARY 10, 1943, THE ARGONAUT SPOTTED A CONVOY OF FIVE FREIGHTERS AND THEIR DESTROYER ESCORTS. THE ARGONAUT HIT AT LEAST ONE OF THE DESTROYERS WITH HER TORPEDOES, AND THEY PROMPTLY COUNTERATTACKED. THE ARGONAUT'S BOW SUDDENLY BROKE THE WATER AT AN UNUSUAL ANGLE. IT WAS APPARENT THAT A DEPTH CHARGE HAD SEVERELY DAMAGED THE SUBMARINE. THE DESTROYERS CONTINUED CIRCLING ARGONAUT AND PUMPING SHELLS INTO HER. SHE SLIPPED BELOW THE WAVES AND WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE OFFICERS AND MEN WENT DOWN WITH THE SUBMARINE.