World War II Honoree

Melvin Clyde Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Moretown, Vermont

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veteran

LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE PETTY OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION WITH ALL HANDS ON BOARD USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) ON 27 FEBRUARY 1944 IN THE EAST CHINA SEA EAST OF THE COAST OF CHEKIANG PROVINCE, CHINA. DECORATIONS: BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, NAVAL UNIT COMMENDATION. USS GRAYBACK LEFT PEARL HARBOR ON 28 JANUARY 1944 TO BEGIN HER TENTH AND FINAL PATROL UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER JOHNNY MOORE. ON 24 FEBRUARY 1944 GRAYBACK RADIOED THAT SHE HAD SUNK TWO CARGO SHIPS ON 19 FEBRUARY AND HAD DAMAGED TWO OTHERS. ON 25 FEBRUARY, GRAYBACK TRANSMITTED HER SECOND AND FINAL REPORT. THAT MORNING SHE HAD SUNK TANKER TOSHIN MARU AND SEVERELY DAMAGED ANOTHER. WITH ONLY TWO TORPEDOES REMAINING, SHE WAS ORDERED HOME FROM PATROL. SHE WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. HEADING HOME THROUGH THE EAST CHINA SEA, ON 27 FEBRUARY, GRAYBACK USED HER LAST TWO TORPEDOES TO SINK THE FREIGHTER CEYLON MARU. ACCORDING TO JAPANESE REPORTS THAT SAME DAY, A JAPANESE CARRIER-BASED PLANE SPOTTED A SUBMARINE ON THE SURFACE IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND ATTACKED. THE SUBMARINE EXPLODED AND SANK IMMEDIATELY, BUT ANTISUBMARINE CRAFT WERE CALLED IN TO DEPTH-CHARGE THE AREA, CLEARLY MARKED BY A TRAIL OF AIR BUBBLES, UNTIL AT LAST A HEAVY OIL SLICK SWELLED TO THE SURFACE. USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) WENT DOWN WITH 80 OFFICERS AND MEN. GRAYBACK HAD ENDED HER LAST PATROL, ONE WHICH COST THE ENEMY SOME 21,594 TONS OF SHIPPING. THE 80 OFFICERS AND MEN WERE POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR THIS FINAL PATROL.