World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Chester Phipps
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Beardsley, Kansas
Honored By
U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.
CHIEF MOTOR MACHINISTS MATE KILLED WITH ALL HANDS ONBOARD USS POMPANO (SS 181) ON OR ABOUT 29 AUGUST 1943. DECORATIONS: SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART. POMPANO LEFT MIDWAY ON 20 AUGUST 1943 TO START HER SEVENTH WAR PATROL WITH LT. CDR. W.M. THOMAS IN COMMAND. POMPANO, WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. HER ORDERS WERE TO PATROL OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU FROM ABOUT 29 AUGUST TO SUNSET OF 27 SEPTEMBER 1943, AND THEN TO RETURN TO PEARL HARBOR FOR REFIT, STOPPING AT MIDWAY EN ROUTE FOR FUEL. BY 15 OCTOBER, ALL HOPE WAS ABANDONED, AND POMPANO WAS REPORTED AS PRESUMED LOST IN ENEMY WATERS. THE ENEMY MADE NO ANTI-SUBMARINE ATTACKS DURING THIS PERIOD IN POMPANO’S AREA, SO ENEMY MINES PROBABLY DESTROYED THE SUBMARINE. USS POMPANO (SS 181) WAS LOST WITH 77 OFFICERS AND MEN.