World War II Honoree

John Thomas Nichols

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Norfolk, Virginia

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

LIEUTENANT. GRADUATED U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, FIRST FEBRUARY GRADUATION 2/7/1941.SERVED ABOARD THE USS WASP; THEN ATTENDED SUBMARINE SCHOOL, GROTON, CONNECTICUT; ASSIGNED AS THE TORPEDO OFFICER ONBOARD USS GRAYLING SS 209. KILLED WITH ALL HANDS ONBOARD USS GRAYLING (SS 209) ON OR ABOUT 9 SEPTEMBER 1943. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. GRAYLING BEGAN HER EIGHTH AND LAST WAR PATROL IN JULY 1943 FROM FREMANTLE AUSTRALIA BUT WAS NOT HEARD FROM AGAIN AFTER 9 SEPTEMBER. GRAYLING WAS OFFICIALLY REPORTED 'LOST WITH ALL HANDS' 30 SEPTEMBER 1943, AFTER HAVING RECORDED FIVE MAJOR KILLS TOTALING 20,575 TONS. EVEN TODAY, THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF GRAYLING IS UNKNOWN, BUT ON 9 SEPTEMBER 1943, JAPANESE PASSENGER-CARGO VESSEL HOKUAN MARU REPORTED A SUBMARINE IN SHALLOW WATER WEST OF LUZON. THE SHIP MADE A RUN OVER THE AREA AND “NOTED AN IMPACT WITH A SUBMERGED OBJECT.” IT IS ASSUMED THE OBJECT WAS GRAYLING. THE SUBMARINE WAS SCHEDULED TO MAKE A RADIO REPORT ON THE 12TH, WHICH SHE DID NOT, AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT HER FAILED. USS GRAYLING (SS 209) WAS LOST WITH 76 OFFICERS AND MEN.