World War II Honoree

George William Finley

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

River Grove, Illinois

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

BOATSWAIN'S MATE SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER 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 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 AND THE DESTROYERS CONTINUED CIRCLING THE ARGONAUT, ATTACKING. IT SLIPPED BELOW THE WAVES AND WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE OFFICERS AND MEN WENT DOWN WITH THE SUBMARINE.