World War II Honoree

Thomas Walter Beecham

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Walteria, California

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Relationship

Shipmates

CHIEF ELECTRICIANS MATE KILLED ONBOARD USS ARGONAUT (SS 166) ON 10 JAN 1943. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. ON 10 JANUARY 1943 ARGONAUT SPOTTED A CONVOY OF FIVE FREIGHTERS AND THEIR DESTROYER ESCORTS. ARGONAUT HIT AT LEAST ONE OF THE DESTROYERS WITH HER TORPEDOES, AND THEY PROMPTLY COUNTERATTACKED. ARGONAUT'S BOW SUDDENLY BROKE THE WATER AT AN UNUSUAL ANGLE. IT WAS APPARENT THAT A DEPTH CHARGE HAD SEVERELY DAMAGED THE SUBMARINE AND 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.