World War II Honoree

Nelson John Allen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, SERVED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER ABOUARD USS SCULPIN (SS 191). KILLED IN ACTION ON 19 NOVEMBER 1943 IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS: BRONZE 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 THE 18TH. ATTACKING ON THE MORNING OF THE 19TH, SHE WAS IN FIRING POSITION BUT WAS FORCED TO DIVE WHEN THE CONVOY AND ITS ESCORTS TURNED TOWARD HER. SCULPIN SURFACED TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN, BUT WAS DISCOVERED BY A REAR GUARD DESTROYER ONLY 600 YARDS AWAY. CRASH DIVING, THE SUBMARINE ESCAPED THE FIRST SALVO OF DEPTH CHARGES. AFTER SEVERAL ADDITIONAL DEPTH CHARGE ATTACKS USS SCULPIN WAS BADLY OUT OF CONTROL. THE PRESSURE HULL WAS DISTORTED, SHE WAS LEAKING, STEERING AND DIVING PLANE GEAR WERE DAMAGED AND SHE WAS BADLY OUT OF TRIM. THE COMMANDING OFFICER DECIDED TO SURFACE AND TO FIGHT CLEAR. THE SHIP WAS SURFACED AND WENT TO GUN ACTION. DURING THE BATTLE THE DESTROYER PLACED A SHELL THROUGH THE MAIN INDUCTION, AND ONE OR MORE THROUGH THE CONNING TOWER KILLING THE GUN CREW, THE MEN WHO WERE ON THE BRIDGE, AND IN THE CONNING TOWER INCLUDING THE GUNNERY OFFICER, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND THE COMMANDING OFFICER. SCULPIN SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE AND WAS SCUTTLED. 12 MEN WENT DOWN WITH THE BOAT FORTY-TWO MEN WERE RESCUED OF WHICH 22 WOULD DIE AS PRISONERS OF WAR. A TOTAL OF 62 MEN DIED.