World War II Honoree

Roy Emerson Abbott

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veteran

FIREMAN SECOND CLASS KILLED IN ACTION WITH ALL HANDS ON BOARD USS TROUT (SS-208) LOST ON FEBRUARY 29,1944 WITH THE LOSS OF 81 OFFICERS AND MEN ON HER 11TH WAR PATROL IN THE EAST CHINA SEA. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. ON 8 FEBRUARY 1944, TROUT BEGAN HER 11TH AND FINAL WAR PATROL. TROUT TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL AT MIDWAY ISLAND AND, ON 16 FEBRUARY, HEADED VIA A GREAT CIRCLE ROUTE TOWARD THE EAST CHINA SEA. MATSU NO. 1, WAS ATTACKED BY A SUBMARINE ON 29 FEBRUARY 1944 IN THE PATROL AREA ASSIGNED TO TROUT. CARRYING THE 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE KWANTUNG ARMY FROM MANCHURIA TO GUAM, MATSU NO. 1 CONSISTED OF FOUR LARGE TRANSPORTS ESCORTED BY THREE YUGUMO-CLASS DESTROYERS OF DESTROYER DIVISION 31: ASASHIMO, KISHINAMI, AND OKINAMI. THE SUBMARINE BADLY DAMAGED ONE LARGE PASSENGER-CARGO SHIP AND SANK THE 7,126-TON TRANSPORT SAKITO MARU, WHICH WAS CARRYING THE JAPANESE 18TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASASHIMO DETECTED THE SUBMARINE AND DROPPED 19 DEPTH CHARGES. OIL AND DEBRIS CAME TO THE SURFACE AND THE DESTROYER DROPPED A FINAL DEPTH CHARGE ON THAT SPOT, AT COORDINATES 22°40'N 131°45'E22.667°N 131.750°E COORDINATES. ON 7 APRIL 1944, TROUT WAS DECLARED PRESUMED MISSING IN ACTION WITH ALL 81 HANDS.