World War II Honoree

Philip Joseph Gabrunas

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

CHIEF MOTOR MACHINIST MATE ONBOARD USS SCULPIN (SS 191). KILLED IN ACTION WHILE MANNING THE HYDRAULIC MANIFOLD ONBOARD USS SCULPIN WHEN IT WAS SCUTTLED ON 19 NOVEMBER 1943 IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS: SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART. USS SCULPIN LEFT PEARL HARBOR ON 5 NOVEMBER 1943 UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER FRED CONNAWAY. AFTER TOPPING OFF WITH FUEL, SCULPIN LEFT JOHNSTON ISLAND ON 7 NOVEMBER 1943 TO CONDUCT HER NINTH WAR PATROL IN AN AREA IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. SCULPIN MADE RADAR CONTACT WITH A LARGE, HIGH-SPEED CONVOY ON THE NIGHT OF 18 NOVEMBER 1943. IN THE SURFACE AND SUBMERGED BATTLE WITH A JAPANESE DESTROYER THAT FOLLOWED ON 19 NOVEMBER 1943 SCULPIN SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE AND WAS SCUTTLED. 12 MEN WENT DOWN WITH THE BOAT. FORTY-TWO MEN WERE RESCUED. A TOTAL OF 62 MEN DIED.