World War II Honoree

Roy Leonard Witting

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

MACHINIST MATE THIRD CLASS PETTY OFFICER KILLED WITH ALL HANDS ONBOARD USS WAHOO (SS 238) ON 11 OCTOBER 1943 IN LA PEROUSE STRAIT, WHILE EXITING THE SEA OF JAPAN BETWEEN HOKKAIDO AND KARAFUTO. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. ON 9 SEPTEMBER, WAHOO DEPARTED PEARL ON HER 7TH WAR PATROL UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER DUDLEY MORTON. WAHOO WAS LAST HEARD FROM 13 SEPTEMBER 1943, AS THE GATO-CLASS SUBMARINE DEPARTED THE ISLAND OF MIDWAY EN ROUTE TO THE “DANGEROUS, YET IMPORTANT,” SEA OF JAPAN. UNDER STRICT RADIO SILENCE, MORTON AND HIS CREW PROCEEDED AS ORDERED. RADIO CONTACT WAS EXPECTED TO BE REGAINED WITH MIDWAY IN LATE OCTOBER UPON WAHOO’S DEPARTURE FROM THE SEA OF JAPAN THROUGH THE KURILE ISLAND CHAIN. NO SUCH CONTACT WAS MADE. JAPANESE REPORTS STATED THAT ONE OF ITS PLANES HAD SPOTTED AN AMERICAN SUBMARINE IN THE LA PEROUSE STRAIT ON 11 OCTOBER 1943. THESE REPORTS INDICATE A MULTI-HOUR COMBINED SEA AND AIR ATTACK INVOLVING DEPTH CHARGES AND AERIAL BOMBS FINALLY SUNK WAHOO. USS WAHOO (SS 238) WAS LOST WITH 80 OFFICERS AND MEN.