World War II Honoree

Calvin G. Barrick

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chesterville, Ohio

Honored By

Avalene

Relationship

Wife

SERVED ON THE SUBMARINE, USS TANG IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. WENT ON ITS FIRST PATROL OFF THE CAROLINE AND MARIANA ISLANDS AND SANK A JAPANESE FREIGHTER. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER ON THE WAY TO MIDWAY, THE TANG SANK 5 ENEMY SHIPS, A FEAT UNHEARD OF BEFORE. ON SECOND PATROL ON THE WAY TO TRUK ISLAND, RESCUED 22 DOWNED AMERICAN NAVAL AVIATORS. ON THE THIRD PATROL TO EAST CHINA AND YELLOW SEAS, SANK 4 ENEMY VESSELS IN MATTER OF MINUTES BEFORE ESCAPING JAPANESE ESCORT. SANK 6 MORE SHIPS BEFORE RETURNING TO MIDWAY. ON HER FIFTH PATROL SANK 13 ENEMY SHIPS AND AS SHE FIRED HER LAST TORPEDO, IT BOOMERANGED BACK AND SUNK THE TANG. CREW MEMBERS WHO ESCAPED WERE TAKEN PRISONER BY JAPANESE PATROL CRAFT. THEY WERE PLACED IN PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS AND WERE LIBERATED IN 1945. DURING THE WAR, THE TANG SUNK 33 ENEMY SHIPS, THE HIGHEST SCORING SUBMARINE IN U.S. NAVY HISTORY.